Kanlaon 'stink' reaches several villages
BACOLOD CITY — Heavy sulfur dioxide (SO2) odor from Kanlaon Volcano have affected communities at the foot of the Kanlaon Volcano that straddles the two Negros provinces.
Irene Bel Ploteña, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, on Wednesday said that the sulfuric odor has reached Barangay Mansalanao, Masulog, Robles, Camandag in Sag-ang in La Castellana; Barangay Odiong, Guinpanaan, Montilla, Macagahay, Quintin Remo and Crossing Magallon in Moises Padilla; Barangay Ilijan, Bacong, Mailum, Ma-ao and Malingin in Bago City; Barangay Ara-al, San Miguel, Yubo, Haguimit, La Granja kag Ara-al in La Carlota City; and in Sitio Legua in Pontevedra.
Ploteña said that the sulfuric odor was not as strong as when the volcano erupted in June this year.
On Tuesday, the odor reached 19 schools in Moises Padilla, according to Mayor Ella Garcia Yulo, who added that the students were instructed to wear masks, while in some areas students were sent home.
The mayor reminded residents to wear masks or place handkerchiefs or clean cloths over their faces in areas hit by the sulfur smell.
Those with asthma, experiencing chest pains or feel unwell should go to the town health center immediately, Yulo added.
Meanwhile, Neri Ann Alibuyog, schools division superintendent of Bago City, said that 14 schools in Bago canceled their face-to-face classes on Wednesday due to the strong sulfuric odor from the restive volcano.
AdvertisementAlibuyog said they have instead shifted to the modular mode of learning.
She added that face-to-face classes will resume as soon as the odor subsides.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that Kanlaon had 15 volcanic earthquakes and emitted 7,107 tons of sulfur dioxide from 12 a.m. Monday to 12 a.m. Tuesday.
Mari-Andylene Quintia, Phivolcs resident volcanologist, said that data of Kanlaon Volcano are lower than in previous weeks.
AdvertisementAlert Level No. 2 remains as the possibility of a magmatic eruption is still possible, she warned.
She said for the volcano to be considered normal, its volcanic earthquakes should be at 0 to 5 per day and for sulfur dioxide should emit less than 300 tons a
