PH Army assists communities affected by Kanlaon eruption
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Army (PA) has deployed rescue and clearing teams to aid communities affected by Kanlaon Volcano’s eruption last Monday.
“The PA deployed rescue and clearing teams in response to the Kanlaon explosive eruption that affected areas of Negros Island,” Col. Reynaldo Balido Jr., deputy chief of the Philippine Army Chief Public Affairs, said in a press conference on Thursday.
READ: Mt. Kanlaon calms down
“Four rescue teams and several military trucks are deployed to the Negros Occidental, specifically the 62nd ID (Infantry Division), 94th ID, 543rd Engineer Construction Battalion including the 303rd Infantry Brigade,” he added.
Kanlaon Volcano erupted last December 9, prompting the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology to raise the alert level in the area to 3, which indicates “magmatic unrest.”
The volcano covers 24,557.60 hectares of land area with rainforests and verdant vegetation. It last erupted on June 3 and has been in unrest since then.
Article continues after this advertisementAccording to Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, the volcano had calmed down, but he said the evacuees might not be able to return home yet to ensure their safety.
On December 9, the Office of Civil Defense reported around 87,000 individuals affected by Mt. Kanlaon’s eruption would be evacuated.
