By FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Monday said the number of families evacuated to safer ground as a result of Mayon Volcano’s continued unrest has increased to 12,044.
In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, NDRRMC spokesperson Romina Marasigan said the families came from the municipalities of Camalig, Guinobatan, and Malilipot in the province of Albay (Region V).
She added that forced evacuation is currently ongoing in the municipality of Daraga and the city of Legaspi due to lava now seen flowing from the volcano.
The evacuation of affected residents is being conducted with the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Marasigan said residents are barred from returning to their respective homes to prevent any untowards incidents from happening.
“Iniiwas na po natin na bumalik ang ating mga kababayan para makaiwas tayo sa peligro,” Marasigan said.
She said there are a total of 10 evacuation centers currently housing the affected residents.
“Three kilometers na iyung inabot ng lava flow so maaari kasi, ang problema kasi sa lava flow at pag-uulan na nararanasan maaari tayong magkaroon ng lahar flow,” Marasigan said.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Sunday raised the alert status of Mayon Volcano from Alert Level 2 (increasing unrest) to Alert Level 3 (increased tendency towards hazardous eruption). This means that magma is at the crater and that hazardous eruption is possible within weeks or even days.
Other LGUs with barangays within the 6 to 8 km Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) convened their respective Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils to discuss proactive actions to be undertaken by their LGU in case the situation escalates.
The NDRRMC said barangays within the 6-km PDZ were alerted and advised to prepare in case of evacuation.
