Tens of thousands evacuated due to massive volcano eruption in the Philippines
The Minister of Social Welfare personally visited evacuation centers in Negros Occidental to deliver food supplies, water filters, and other vital resources to families evacuated from the danger zone.
Photo: pixabay.com
A volcanic eruption occurred on Mount Kanlaon in the Philippines, with a massive ash column and pyroclastic flows prompting the evacuation of 87,000 people, including 47,000 residents of La Castellana municipality.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology reported that the eruption lasted four minutes. Authorities established a six-kilometer danger zone and raised the alert level to three. Evacuees have been accommodated in centers and with relatives.
On Tuesday, December 10, the Philippines' Secretary of Social Welfare and Development, Rex Gatchalian, visited evacuation centers in Negros Occidental province affected by the Kanlaon volcano eruption, as reported by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
During the visit, he delivered over 590,000 Philippine pesos worth of food packs and essential resources to support evacuated families.
Following the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Gatchalian inspected three evacuation centers in La Carlota, Bago, and La Castellana.
In addition to food packs, the affected individuals received hygiene kits, family packs, and portable water filters.
The latter, as noted by the minister, will help ensure residents have access to clean drinking water amid the risk of contamination due to volcanic activity.
The minister also assured that the national government, in collaboration with local authorities, would continue providing assistance. "The President instructed us to personally assess how we can improve your living conditions. The government will remain by your side until the situation normalizes," Gatchalian said.
To ensure communication and access to information, mobile command centers with internet and power sources have been deployed in the area. These centers provide charging facilities and help evacuees stay connected with their families.
During his visit, the minister also met with local authorities to coordinate further steps and identify additional needs of the affected population.
Gatchalian was accompanied by high-ranking DSWD officials, including Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe and regional directors.
DSWD's measures aim to stabilize the lives of evacuees as quickly as possible and prevent potential health issues related to the volcanic eruption.
Earlier, it was reported that a volcano eruption on the Indonesian island of Flores, Livotobi eruption, caused six fatalities, destroyed several villages, and affected a monastery where one nun went missing.
It was also reported that in Sicily, Mount Etna's eruption led to flight cancellations during the peak of the Ferragosto holiday, disrupting air travel and causing inconvenience for tourists.