More families leave mudflow-hit villages

LEGAZPI CITY – More residents have evacuated from four Sorsogon villages swept by thick volcanic mud which days of heavy rains had washed out from the slopes of restive Bulusan volcano, authorities said.

Bernardo Alejandro IV, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) based at Camp General Simeon Ola here, said the number of evacuees has reached 533 – 185 from Barangay Patag, 160 from Barangay Cogon, 63 from Barangay Mapaso, and 125 from Barangay Bonbon, all in Irosin town.

Alejandro said the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council has provided the evacuees with blankets and water jugs, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, with rice and canned goods.

The evacuees are staying at the Irosin municipal hall and Mapaso barangay hall.

Alejandro said workers of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ second district engineering office have started clearing BLISS Homes and the San Binon Road in Barangay Monbon of thick mud.

Volcanologist Bella Tuvianosa said the four barangays are situated about five kilometers from the slopes of Bulusan volcano. – With Helen Flores