Remaining Mayon evacuees sent home

LEGAZPI, Philippines — At least 2,289 families or 9,284 residents in 12 evacuation centers were sent home on Thursday following the lowering of Mayon Volcano’s alert level. 

Cedric Daep, Albay provincial security and emergency management office head, said the remaining evacuees from Camalig, Guinobatan, Malilipot and Tabaco have decamped.

Daep said the ban on entry into the six-kilometer permanent danger zone has been lifted, but crater climb and lava wall visits are still prohibited due to the threat of rock fall and sudden explosion.

He said evacuees whose source of livelihood is within the permanent danger zone would continue to receive relief assistance from the government. 

Renato Solidum, Department of Science and Technology undersecretary and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director, said the lowering of the alert level from 3 to 2 means the volcano’s critical parameters have dropped. 

“But it doesn’t mean there’s no abnormality... The volcano is still inflated compared to previous baseline surveys. But the observation that it was inflated also showed a downward trend,” Solidum said. 

He said Mayon’s recent general feature, particularly the absence of lava flow and volcanic earthquakes, is an indication of a lesser degree of abnormality.

Anti-lahar measures

Meanwhile, Mayon task force head Francis Tolentino ordered concerned government agencies to come up with anti-lahar contingency plans.

Tolentino said he would present these measures during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

“I am requesting you to come up with consolidated and comprehensive short and long-term action plans that may need budgetary support,” Tolentino told representatives of government agencies during a briefing at Camp General Simeon Ola over the weekend.

He said the Department of Public Works and Highways should study the possibility of dredging river channels silted with lahar.

Tolentino said heavy equipment should be prepositioned in case of heavy rains.

He said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources should also look into reports of unabated quarrying around the volcano.

Phivolcs said at least 13 million cubic meters or 20 percent of newly extruded volcanic materials could be mobilized as lahar during heavy rains.

The Office of Civil Defense said more than 80,000 people would be evacuated in case of massive lahar flow.

Most of those at risk for lahar are residents of this city, Daraga, Camalig, Tabaco and Guinobatan.

State weather forecasters said the approaching low-pressure area could bring rains in Albay on Tuesday. - Cet Dematera

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