76 Bago residents evacuate amid tremors, sulfuric smell

BACOLOD. At least 76 residents of Purok Balatong in Barangay Ilijan, Bago City evacuate following tremors on Tuesday night, June 23, 2020. (Bago DRRM Photo)
BACOLOD. At least 76 residents of Purok Balatong in Barangay Ilijan, Bago City evacuate following tremors on Tuesday night, June 23, 2020. (Bago DRRM Photo)

SEVENTY-SIX individuals belonging to 18 families in Purok Balatong, Barangay Ilijan in Bago City have evacuated after tremors were felt by residents on Tuesday evening, June 23.

Residents of the upland community also smelled a sulfur-like odor, which is possibly emitted by the Kanlaon Volcano.

Councilor Jozsef Mark Dexter Somcio, chairman of the City Council's committee on disaster risk reduction management, said these residents are living in a landslide-prone area.

Somcio, who was with the responding team, said the houses were situated on a lower portion of a cliff, so there is a tendency that big rocks might fall during strong earth movement and continuous rainfall that can cause liquefaction of the soil.

He said aside from series of aftershocks, they were also anticipating the possibility of flood in the river as there was a heavy downpour at the top portion of the mountain.

"So despite that there's no advise yet from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), we decided to evacuate the residents," the official added.

Some residents, including some elderly, have crossed the river through a temporary bamboo bridge established by the local government.

It can be recalled that the concrete bridge approaching the Buenos Aires Resort being used as the city's community isolation facility collapsed earlier this month.

Aside from frontliners, the bridge also served as passageway of some residents going to other barangays and city proper.

Dr. Merijene Ortizo, head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), said residents started to evacuate following the "ground shaking" felt around seven in the evening of that day.

Ortizo said residents spent a night at a higher and safer ground called "forevermore," they were provided of tents as temporary shelter by the barangay council.

"They were able to return in their houses Wednesday morning," she said, adding that the area where they stayed is identified as a pick up point in case there's a need for evacuation.

Based on the bulletin of the Phivolcs Wednesday, Kanlaon Volcano's seismic monitoring network recorded 38 volcano-tectonic earthquakes on the western flanks during the 24-hour observation period.

A magnitude 3.6 earthquake around 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, was recorded by the Philippine Seismic Network. It was felt at Intensity II in Bago City and Intensity III in La Carlota City.

Activity at the vent consisted of moderate emission of white steam-laden plumes that rose 300 meters before drifting southwest.

"Phivolcs would like to remind the public that Kanlaon Volcano is at Alert Level 1 which means that it is at an abnormal condition and has entered a period of unrest," it said, adding that entry to the four-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone must be strictly prohibited.

Not complacent

Amid the abnormal condition and activities of the volcano, the local government has also put in place some necessary measures to ensure the safety of the residents in Barangay Ilijan, as well as of other upland communities.

The CDRRMO has conducted a meeting with officials of the Bago City DRRM Council headed by Mayor Nicholas Yulo and revisited the contingency plans for Mt. Kanlaon eruption and ground shaking.

It conducted information dissemination campaign for the upland barangays and preparedness meeting with the Provincial DRRMO.

Also, it prepositioned 300 hygiene kits, conducted recorida, distributed information and education (IEC) materials and coordinated with the barangays for preparedness activities in relation to the earthquakes felt and emission of fumes at Mt. Kanlaon.

Somcio said the local government also prepared some buses that will transport residents in case there's a need for evacuation.

Somcio said a facility in Barangay Ma-ao will be used as an evacuation center.

"Let's not be complacent. Residents should not take it as a normal event as there is a pressing danger," he said, adding that residents are urged to prepare their things so possible evacuation, if needed, will be smooth.

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph