Volcano Eruptions

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) on Monday recommended the possible evacuation of more than 15,000 families along radius of Mayon Volcano in Albay if the volcanic activity worsened in the next few days.

In the statement released by NDCC Administrator Retired Maj. Gen. Glenn Rabonza, the primary objective of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) of Albay led by Gov. Joey Salceda is to have zero casualties once the situation of the volcano worsens even more.

The Alert Level 2 raised by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) in still in effect.

According to plan submitted by the PDCC-Albay, once the alert level is raised to level 3, around 1,785 families living inside the six kilometer radius permanent danger zone will be immediately evacuated by the provincial government. These include some barangays in the cities Tabaco and Ligao, and Municipalities of Camalig, Malilipot, Guinobatan and Daraga.

Governor Salceda instructed disaster officers in those said cities and municipalities to update their data on population at risk and their respective warning and evacuation plans for the Provincial Disaster Office to make necessary adjustments in its contingency plans which calls for immediate evacuation of the affected residents when Alert Level 3 is raised.

Meanwhile, around 13,458 families are ready to evacuate along the 8-kilometer extended High Risk Zone if the alert level will reach level 4.

The PHIVOLCS and some local officials of Albay yesterday conducted and aerial survey to determine the present status of the volcanic activity of Mayon.

Salceda warned around 4,000 farmers who were keeping watch over crops within the permanent danger zone to return to their villages at night to avoid getting caught by surprise should the volcano erupt.

Human activity near the volcano is already prohibited after PHIVOLCS raised the alert level from 1 to 2 last Friday after an increase in abnormal activity in the past days.