Lahar alert up in Pampanga

CLARK FREEPORT, Philippines – Residents of Pampanga and Zambales were warned yesterday on possible lahar flows in the face of Typhoon Lawin. ?

Residents near the Pasig-Potrero River in Pampanga and the Sto. Tomas-Marella River in Zambales are at risk from lahar flows, Mariton Bornas, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology volcano monitoring division chief, said yesterday.

“We inspected the Sto. Tomas-Marella River and found out that a long stretch of the four-kilometer-wide diking system midstream is full of volcanic debris about seven meters thick. Strong rains could mobilize these debris and hit populated areas, particularly San Marcelino and Castillejos,” Bornas said. ??

Bornas said lahar in the channels around Mt. Pinatubo  could be pushed by heavy rains to downstream communities. ??

She said the megadike along the Pasig-Potrero River also accumulated lahar debris.

“It would seem that unless serious danger befalls these areas, the residents in these areas would not abandon their homes, so the option in the meantime is to keep them aware of the risk they are facing and alert them in case of immediate danger,” she said.