Families leave homes built on deadly ground in Negros

GROWING fissure on the ground prompted the evacuation of several families in a remote area in Escalante town in Negros Occidental. 

Escalante Mayor Melencio Yap ordered the evacuation as he noted the Mines and

Geosciences Bureau (MGB) had deemed the area a permanent danger zone. 

The families in Sitio Baluk in Malasibog and Paitan villages, some 5 km from the city proper, were preemptively evacuated Tuesday and Wednesday, according to reports. 

Many residents in the area had been told to evacuate before, but had refused to do so at the time, Yap said. 

But he cited reports of slight movements of the earth in Baluk lately, as rain filled fissures in the ground with water. 

These recent developments raised concerns that new landslides could occur. 

Escalante city social welfare officer Lea Juntarsiego said there are 35 families living in the permanent danger zone. 

As of Wednesday, 29 families with 129 people were evacuated to the Malasibog Elementary School and the “Diyos Amahan” chapel. 

Yap said a permanent relocation side for the evacuees was being identified. For now, the city government was providing them with food assistance at the evacuation sites. 

The Escalante Social Welfare Office and General Services Office are now monitoring the recent soil movement in Paitan and Malasibog area, Provincial Social Welfare Officer Liane Garcia said.

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