MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development said Sunday it has evacuated around 50 families still residing within Mayon Volcano’s six-kilometer-radius permanent danger zone.
The forced evacuation came after authorities received reports that some residents had not moved to safer areas.
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The families are from Barangay Anoling, one of the geographically-isolated areas in Camalig town in Bicol. They will be moved to a temporary shelter in Baligang Elementary School, according to DSWD Field Office V Regional Director Normal Laurio.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recommended the evacuation of residents living within the 6-km-radius PDZ due to dangers posed by lava flows, rockfalls, and fast-moving streams of volcanic ash, rock and gases, known as pyroclastic density currents (PDCs).
Over 20,000 people have been displaced by Mayon’s unrest, which started a month ago. Most of the displaced individuals are staying in 26 evacuation centers across the province.
Mayon remains under Alert Level 3, which indicates an increased tendency toward a “hazardous” eruption.
The volcano continued to spew slow-moving lava and steam, and triggered rockfalls and volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours.
The government has so far provided P143 million in assistance to affected residents. — Gaea Katreena Cabico