Kanlaon eruption: Balamban’s air quality still clear

CEBU, Philippines - One Cebu town, which has been placed under alert status following the ash eruption of the nearby Kanlaon Volcano, is still clear from any harmful air substances. 

EMB-7, a line bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7, installed an air quality monitoring equipment in Balamban town yesterday morning to monitor regularly the status of air quality of the town that faces Negros Island.

Engr. Cindylyn Pepito, chief of EMB-7’s Ambient Air and Water Monitoring Section, said yesterday that the agency has not yet detected any acidic substance or other gases that can be associated from ash composition.

“Wala pa. Okay ang air quality as of now,” she said in a text message conveyed to The Freeman.

Pepito based her statement on her analysis on the hourly reading gathered as of yesterday.

She however pointed out that ash exposure will depend on two main factors: (a) wind direction and (b) wind speed.

Examining air quality is needed to assure that people are protected from the ashes’ adverse effects on the health of the people and the condition of farm crops or animals.

Considering that ashes generated from the slight eruption can be carried by the wind to great distance, EMB-7 visited one of the local government units in western Cebu that is on alert status.

Aside from Balamban, also included on the list are the towns of Tabuelan, Tuburan, Asturias, Pinamungajan, Aloguinsan, and Toledo City.

The volcanic ashes can injure health, harm the environment and even cause damage to property.

“Ash composition would include acidic substances and other gases. Due to its acidic nature, it can possibly cause damage to roofs. Further, it can greatly affect our health as well as to the animals,” Pepito explained.

Respiratory diseases and eye problems may develop due to ash exposure, she continued, while warning those who already suffer from these types of disease to take precautions.

Meanwhile, in Bacolod City, at least 19 people have evacuated from their residences near Kanlaon Volcano on Wednesday, due to the bad sulfur smell following its eruption, authorities said yesterday.

At the same time, residents from adjacent areas have been told to wear masks and stay indoors.

Mt. Kanlaon, which straddles Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental provinces (or Negros Island) spewed ashes and fiery rocks as high as 1.5 kilometer Tuesday at about 6:20 p.m., and 7:18 p.m., the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

The ash eruption from the crater lasted 12 minutes and was accompanied by a “booming sound” that was heard in Barangays Ara-al and Yubo in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, and in Barangay Pula, Canlaon City in Negros Oriental, Phivolcs added.

Bago City Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council Officer-Designate Jen Ortizo said yesterday they evacuated 19 individuals from Bago City, Negros Occidental Wednesday night because of the smell of the sulfur, but only 12 of them stayed at the evacuation center at Ma-ao Gymnasium, while the seven went to their relatives nearby.

But as of yesterday (Thursday), there were no evacuees staying at the gym as all of them have already returned to their houses in Bago City.

Residents in Barangya Ma-aoBago City can still smell sulfur as of yesterday, but not as worse compared to Tuesday night.

Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian, head of the Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Management Program Division, said the affected local government units (LGUs) provided gas masks for the residents, as the sulphur from the ash fall is hazardous to one’s health since it could trigger asthma and pulmonary problems.

Five LGUs in Negros Occidental were affected by the ashfall. He said traces of ash were reported in Salvador Benedicto in the First District;   Bago City, La Carlota City, and Pontevedra in the Fourth District; and La Castellana in the Fifth District.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) of Canlaon City, Negros Oriental reported that there were two minor eruptions in Mount Kanlaon at 6:20 p.m. and 7:18 p.m. the other day. (FREEMAN)