(UPDATE) THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) wants residents living within the 4-kilometer radius permanent danger zone (PDZ) to leave their homes amid the increasing unrest of Kanlaon Volcano which had been showing signs of possible eruption. Phivolcs Director Teresito "Toto" Bacolcol confirmed with The Manila Times during a Viber interview that some families remain inside the PDZ despite the standing policy that the area must be off-limits all the time. Bacolcol said concerned local government units (LGUs) should make sure that residents leave the danger zone."During this time that the volcano has been showing restiveness, they must be told to get out of the PDZ immediately because we could not exactly predict when it would erupt," the Phivolcs chief warned. According to the Kanlaon Volcano Network, the volcano has recorded 337 volcanic earthquakes as of 12 midnight on Wednesday and spewed 9,985 tons per day of sulfur dioxide and plumes that reached 1,000 meters high. The current data were higher than the previous monitored parameters, Phivolcs said. Bacolcol said that they were not ruling out the possibility of another eruption. The volcano is currently under Alert Level 2, which means that there is an "unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes with increased chances of leading to explosive eruptions or even hazardous magmatic eruption from the summit crater." DSWD leads preemptive evacuation in Central Visayas The Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Field Office (FO) 7-Central Visayas has been closely monitoring the continuing preemptive evacuation in Canlaon City due to Mt. Kanlaon's restiveness. Central Visayas Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero reported to DSWD Secretary Rexlon Gatchalian that as of 10 p.m. on Tuesday, about 88 families, or 248 individuals, had been relocated to three public high schools for temporary shelter. In Masulog village, 65 households (204 individuals) have been evacuated to Masulog High School, while 10 families (31 individuals) are currently seeking shelter at the Malaiba Elementary School in Barangay Malaiba, while three families (13 individuals) from Barangay Pula have been evacuated to Pula Elementary School. Lucero said that the quick response team (QRT) on Negros Island has been notified of Mt. Kanlaon's unrest. "I am reaching out to the Canlaon City mayor, Negros Oriental governor and Congresswoman Joselyn Limkaichong to assure them of our preparedness for disaster response and augmentation of relief items," said Lucero. Lucero said that her regional office is working closely with the LGU of Canlaon on the emergency response plan, with refresher training already taking place with QRT members who will be dispatched to the area if needed. DSWD FO 6-Western Visayas Regional Director Carmelo Nochete also informed Secretary Gatchalian that the FO has a total of 32,990 boxes of family food packs (FFPs) in Bacolod City, with over 37,000 food packs prepositioned in warehouses throughout Negros Occidental. Around 7,000 boxes of FFPs have been pre-positioned on top of nonfood items such as hygiene, family, cooking and sleeping kits, as well as modular tents. In Negros Oriental, around 14,000 FFPs are stored at the DSWD warehouse in Dumaguete City, with another 3,400 boxes in the agency's storage facility in Vallehermoso. Kanlaon forces class suspension As Mt. Kanlaon became more and more restive, classes were suspended in areas located at the foot of the volcano on Tuesday and Wednesday. La Castellana Mayor Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan, in an executive order, announced a suspension of classes on Tuesday and Wednesday. "Due to the increasing unrest of Mt. Kanlaon, classes in all levels, both in public and private schools, are suspended today," the local government said on its official Facebook page. The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, chaired by Mangilimutan, cited the 11 a.m. advisory of Phivolcs, which recorded 288 volcanic-tectonic earthquakes since midnight on Tuesday. "In this situation, residents of the upper barangays are prohibited from entering and staying within the four-kilometer radius permanent danger zone," it said, as it appealed for everyone to keep safe. Phivolcs, in its advisory in Negros Occidental, cited "rumbling sounds were reported by some residents of Bago City," and "strong sulfur fumes" have been reported in some barangay (villages) in Bago and La Carlota City. "The public is reminded that Alert Level 2 (increasing unrest) prevails over Mt. Kanlaon, but the current seismic activity may lead to eruptive unrest and an increase in the alert level," the state agency said. La Carlota City Mayor Rex Jalandoon ordered a preemptive evacuation in Barangay Areal, Yubo, San Miguel and Haguimit due to increased volcanic quakes in areas surrounding Mt. Kanlaon. In Negros Oriental, the city government of Canlaon also suspended classes in five villages. In a social media post, the local government said the indefinite suspension of classes covers schools in Masulog, Pula, Malaiba, Lumapao and Linothangan villages. Canlaon Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas directed school administrators to prioritize safety and prepare for emergencies. The city government earlier ordered the mandatory evacuation of residents within the PDZ even as it readied 6,800 food packs, water, medicines, essential supplies and logistical resources, including heavy equipment and transportation. Cardenas coordinated with the Department of Public Works and Highways to fully open both lanes of the concreted detour road to ease access for commuters. Evacuation centers have been identified, with priority given to senior citizens and persons with disabilities. On Wednesday, Phivolcs reported sulfuric odors that were reported in Barangay Ilijan, Bago City; Barangay Ara-al and Barangay San Miguel in La Carlota City; and Barangay Masulog, Barangay Linothangan and Barangay Pula in Canlaon City. The agency advised the public to be ready and vigilant, and to avoid entering the PDZ "to minimize risks from volcanic hazards such as pyroclastic density currents, ballistic projectiles, rockfall, and others."
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