By JEN BAYLON

More than 700 families in Negros Occidental’s La Castellana town remained inside evacuation centers almost two weeks after the phreatic eruption of Kanlaon Volcano.

Irene Bel Ploteña, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said 783 families or 2,922 individuals stayed in several evacuation centers in the town.

They were from Barangays Biak na Bato, Cabagnaan, Cabacungan, Camandag, and Masulog.

Meanwhile, Mayor Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan said 488 families from Barangay Mansalanao have already returned to their homes, as their area, which is not within the volcano’s permanent danger zone (PDZ), is no longer deemed dangerous.

However, remaining residents are still awaiting clearance to return home due to their proximity to the PDZ, and the possible threat of lahar flows in nearby creeks.

Mangilimutan said only five out of eight evacuation centers are operational, including St. Vincent High School, La Castellana Elementary School, La Castellana High School, Don Felix Robles Elementary School, and the municipal evacuation center.

Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense in Western Visayas (OCD-6) wants strict implementation of Kanlaon’s PDZ.

OCD-6 Director Raul Fernandez said the PDZ should be cleared of human activities once Alert Level 2 is raised on the volcano.

Kanlaon’s eruption affected 1,752 families, composed of 6,119 residents, from 20 barangays in several local government units in Negros Occidental./JB, WDJ