5,000 likely to spend Christmas in evacuation centers

CEBU, Philippines — At least 5,000 people in Canlaon City evacuated due to the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon are more likely to spend Christmas and welcome the new year in evacuation centers.

The regional director of the Office of the Civil Defense in Central Visayas (OCD-7) Joel Erestain said the government is preparing for these evacuees to stay longer in the evacuation centers because of the unpredictability of Mt. Kanlaon.

“Malaki po ang posibilidad. It’s almost sure that they will spend Christmas there (evacuation centers) Erestain in a phone interview.

Over the weekend, the local government in Canlaon City together with other government agencies and security forces have been able to evacuate more than 5,000 people from the at least 6,000 individuals living within the six-kilometer danger zone.

At least eight evacuation camps in Canlaon City were opened to accommodate the families.

With the influx of evacuees and the possibility that the situation will take more days, Erestain said the government is preparing more aid for the welfare of the evacuees in the coming days.

“Right now what we need is how to feed them and how to take care of them… That’s why the national government is taking steps in helping them kasi alam naman natin na hindi kakayanin nga local government. The province ay tumulang na rin” he added.

Right now, Mt. Kanlaon is still under Alert Level 3 or intensified unrest/magmatic unrest after it erupted on December 3.

Last December 15, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded 12 volcanic earthquakes, 6,535 tons of sulfur dioxide flux, and up to 75-meters-tall ash emission to southwest and south-southwest.

Right now the local government unit of Canlaon City calls on the public for donations in-kind, like essential items for the evacuees.  — (FREEMAN)