Lahar warning up around Mayon

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – A drastic increase in the number of volcanic earthquakes and rockfall events in Mayon Volcano was recorded yesterday, while the state weather bureau warned of possible lahar flows and landslides due to heavy rains to be spawned by Tropical Storm Mario.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded 142 volcanic earthquakes, far higher than the previous record of 45, and 251 rockfall events in the past 24 hours.

“Our seismographs could have recorded more rockfall incidents, but the noise created by the heavy rains over Mayon had disturbed the accurate detection,” Philvocs-Bicol chief volcanologist Ed Laguerta told The STAR.

Moderate emission of white steam plumes that drifted south southwest was also observed on Mayon. Sulfur dioxide flux was measured at an average of 757 tons per day last Wednesday.

Laguerta said that the abnormal activities of Mayon are similar to those observed in the early activities of the eruption episode in 2000.

“Should it follow the 2000 eruption pattern, lava trickles might be followed by lava flow, lava fountaining, then by pyroclastic flow. But we are not yet sure if this pattern will indeed be followed by the present eruption,” he added.

Mayon’s alert status remained at Alert Level 3, which means that magma is at the crater and that hazardous eruption is possible within weeks.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned residents living along river channels surrounding the slopes of Mayon of possible lahar flows and landslides due to heavy rains.

PAGASA senior weather forecaster Mario Palafox said moderate to heavy rains are expected over the Bicol region in the next few days.

On Nov. 30, 2006, Typhoon Reming triggered mudslides from the slopes of Mayon, killing around 1,000 people.

As of yesterday morning, the Southern Luzon Command Task Force Sagip evacuated 7,575 families or 36,119 persons.

The residents were transported by 23 Army trucks to different evacuation centers in Albay. Two UH1H helicopters are also stationed in Legazpi City for possible air evacuation.

Delayed distribution of relief goods

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda yesterday visited evacuation centers to verify reports that some evacuees have not yet received food and other relief items and are running out of drinking water.

He first visited the evacuation center inside the Camalig North Central School in Camalig town, which was reported on national television that evacuees there have yet to receive relief goods.

Salceda admitted that there was a delay in the distribution of relief goods, but said that measures are being done to speed up distribution.

The provincial government is distributing five kilos of rice to each family per day, while the viand is being provided by the concerned town or city as their counterpart aid.

Salceda already requested for augmentation assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), including 8,964 bags of rice.

The DSWD has also started preparations in the allocation of adequate food and other relief items to areas in the Bicol region that will be affected by eruption of Mayon.

The DSWD said it has provided P735,172 worth of family food packs, assorted food items, and assorted non-food items to the province of Albay.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) has placed all hospitals in Albay under Code White Alert.

Under this alert level, the hospitals’ medical personnel, administrative and support staff, including drivers, must be ready to respond to emergency situations. The hospital must also ensure that they have enough medicine, medical supplies and other necessary logistics.

DOH Undersecretary Janette Garin said this would ensure that health facilities would be prepared to attend to the medical needs of those who might be affected by Mayon’s eruption.

Garin raised concern that a volcanic eruption could come with health hazards like asthma, skin disease and pneumonia.

Animals to be evacuated, too

Disaster management units will also move about 35,000 livestock and pets to temporary shelters, so that evacuated residents would not return for them in risky areas.

“We want to evacuate their animals. The evacuees are returning for them,” Office of Civil Defense Bicol Director Rafaelito Alejandro said. “We just prioritized the evacuation of humans.”

Alejandro said the evacuation of animals is expected to start today after all families in danger zones are moved to safe areas.

He also noted that many of the evacuees are farmers. Among the animals to be moved are carabaos, cows, pigs and dogs.

Earlier, Salceda said the provincial government would allot a budget for the evacuation of the animals.

“We have to budget P3 per head per day for the evacuation, so residents will have no alibi to go home or not cooperate with the evacuation,” he said. With Alexis Romero, Sheila Crisostomo, Rainier Allan Ronda, Michelle Zoleta