Philippine officials order evacuation after Kanlaon Volcano erupts

KUALA LUMPUR, Philippine authorities ordered the evacuation of thousands of residents living near Mount Kanlaon volcano in central Philippines, Tuesday, after its eruption caused a cloud of ash to rise five kilometers into the sky. Chief of the state seismology agency, Teresito Bacolcol, advised "We advise people to wear face masks to protect themselves from volcanic ash" as the agency raised the alert level which indicated the potential for further eruptions. Mayor of Kanloan City, Jose Cardenas, issued a statement urging residents in all four areas near the volcano to evacuate and move to the designated evacuation centers, as he emphasized to pack the essential items such as water and food. Response teams have been deployed in the affected areas to move the residents to safe places, The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said in a statement. Government officials warned of the possibility of further eruptions and hazardous ash fall, also warned that rivers below the volcano are at risk of floods and other hazar ds. There are no reported any missing persons, injuries, or fatalities since the volcano erupted yet, the six-minute explosive eruption, caused suspension of work and schools in the city and cancellation of 32 flights by three airlines. Mount Kanloan last erupted in December 2017, it is one of 24 active volcanos in the Philippines. Source: Kuwait News Agency