OCD identifies 35 pyroclastic hazard areas, buffer zones in 6 Negros LGUs

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• GILBERT P. BAYORAN

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has identified 35 barangays in six local government units (LGUs) of Negros Island that may be affected by the pyroclastic flow hazard in case of another eruption of Mt. Kanlaon.

Pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) are fast-moving flows of volcanic particles, hot gases, and ash that rush down from the volcanic slopes.

The OCD, in a statement posted on its social media accounts, identified the villages vulnerable to pyroclastic flow hazard as barangays  Sag-ang, Camandag, Mansalanao, Manghanoy, Cabacungan, Puso, Biak na Bato, Masulog, Cabagnaan and Robles in La Castellana; and   Magallon Cadre, Odiong, Guinpana-an, Montilla, Quentin Remo and Macagahay in Moises Padilla.

The Office of Civil Defense 6, through the Regional Incident Management Team, continues to distribute vital welfare goods to individuals affected by the Mt. Kanlaon eruption in La Castellana and La Carlota City. | OCD6 photo

Others are  Ilijan, Binubuhan, Mailum and Ma-ao in Bago City;  Ara-al, Haguimit, San Miguel, La Granja, Yubo, La Granja and Balabag in La Carlota City; and Buenavista Rizal and Zamora in Pontevedra, all in Negros Occidental.

Also included are barangays Pula, Linothangan, Masulog, Malaiba, Mabigo and Budlasan West in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.

PDCs are the most dangerous volcanic hazards, causing severe burns, asphyxiation, dynamic pressure impacts, and burial under extremely hot volcanic materials.

In an advisory issued on Tuesday (Jan.14), Phivolcs recorded two more ash events, which lasted from 39 minutes to one hour, and 15 volcanic quakes, including four volcanic tremors.

The OCD said it has already dispatched 1,350 family tents to Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental for the establishment of a tent city. Another tent city is also up for establishment in Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental.

Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Garcia Yulo said they signed a memorandum of agreement with Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental for the town to serve as an evacuation center of the city’s residents in the event of another volcanic eruption.

Based on the worst-scenario case, an estimated 40,000 residents, which is the entire town population, will have to be evacuated.

Alert Level 3 remains hoisted over Mt. Kanlaon, which means magmatic eruption has begun that may progress to further explosive eruptions. | GB