Canlaon City faces potential “doomsday scenario”

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“It is inevitable that Canlaon City may be buried by a future eruption,” warned Director Joel Erestain, head of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Central Visayas, in a recent Facebook post.

The OCD is preparing for a worst-case scenario, dubbed “Plan Exodus,” which involves the evacuation of all residents of Canlaon City due to the potential for catastrophic volcanic activity from Kanlaon. “We have to be prepared for the worst-case scenario,” he added.

The city which has a land area of 16,662.59 hectares is home to over 60,000 residents.

This grim assessment comes as authorities grapple with the ongoing volcanic unrest at Kanlaon volcano. Discussions with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) have been ongoing since September to identify potential relocation sites for the city’s residents.

“One of the challenges is finding suitable land for evacuation outside of Canlaon City,” Erestain said.

The OCD is developing a comprehensive evacuation plan, including strategies for the systematic transportation of residents if Alert Level 4 is raised, indicating an imminent hazardous eruption.

“Our primary evacuation route is the road leading to Vallehermoso,” Erestain said, highlighting the need for a well-coordinated evacuation effort.

Meanwhile, Raul Fernandez, chair of Task Force Kanlaon and Director of the Office of Civil Defense Western Visayas, urged residents affected by the Kanlaon eruptions to exercise patience and endurance amid the volcano’s ongoing restiveness.

During a press conference held by the Regional Inter-Agency Coordinating Cell (RIACC) regarding updates on Kanlaon’s eruptions, Fernandez stated, “The government is facing the problem head-on and is batting for zero casualty.” He reassured the community, saying, “Do not give up yet. The nature is just testing our resilience.” He further emphasized the government’s commitment, noting, “We have the full support of the President, and we have the secretary of national defense, who is the chairperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.” Fernandez commended local government units (LGUs) for their active engagement in supporting their constituents.

Fernandez reminded residents that returning to their homes within the six-kilometer extended danger zone remains unsafe, despite locals asserting their understanding of the volcano’s behavior. He pointed out that increased presence in the danger zone could unnecessarily expose more lives to risk.

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