Phivolcs warns of lahar flow from Pinatubo

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – The threat of lahar from Mt. Pinatubo remains, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) chief Renato Solidum said yesterday.

In a forum held here, Solidum said communities near lahar-silted river channels should be cautious this rainy season, noting that climate change could bring unusual rainfall and mobilize lahar debris. ??

He said continuous rains have yet to be experienced over the volcano since it erupted in 1991. ??   

Solidum said the government should build diking systems to protect populated areas from being buried by lahar. “The dikes have to be continuously maintained and the channels should be regularly dredged,” he said.

In Pampanga, he said the upper section of the Pasig-Potrero River where a megadike was built should be monitored. ??  

 “Watch out for the behavior of lahar in the area called Delta 5 near the Porac-Angeles Road, where threat could emanate from the Pasig-Potrero River,” Solidum said.

He said lahar sand quarrying should be supervised to direct the flow of the river away from the diking system.

Solidum said those who were allowed to build homes within the megadike are at risk in the event of continuous rains.