• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Due to continuing rains, muddy stream flow was observed again in waterways of La Castellana in Negros Occidental, local disaster unit head John de Asis disclosed on Wednesday.
However, there was no overflowing of mud deposits cascading down the slopes of Kanlaon Volcano, De Asis said.
The Office of Civil Defense advised residents living near river channels around Kanlaon to stay away from riverbanks and waterways, and avoid fetching water from the river.
The public has been urged to watch out for sudden lahar and mud flows, and heed evacuation and safety instructions issued by authorities.
De Asis also disclosed that the provincial government of Negros Occidental has sent an excavator to remove debris from narrow waterways, which has been blamed for the overflow of lahar deposits in La Castellana last month.
Donato Sermeno III, chief of the OCD-Negros Island Region, said that more volcanic debris generated by the recent eruption may cascade down the slopes of Kanlaon, if the rain persists.
On the other hand, De Asis said they have already identified areas to transfer some internally displaced persons outside of the schools presently being used as evacuation centers.
Exempted are senior citizens and persons with disabilities, he added.*
