MANILA, Philippines — Rains affecting Albay may trigger lahar in areas around Mayon Volcano, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
At the Laging Handa press briefing, Phivolcs resident volcanologist Paul Alanis warned residents along river systems surrounding the volcano to prepare and be on alert.
Alanis said heavy rainfall may generate channel-confined lahars and sediment-laden streamflows along channels where pyroclastic density currents (PDC) deposits were emplaced.
Phivolcs said Mayon remains restive, with seven dome and lava-front collapse PDCs and 361 rockfall events monitored in the past 24 hours.
Very slow effusion of lava from the summit crater is continuing along the Mi-isi (south) and Bonga (southeastern) gullies, reaching 1,400 to 2,800 meters.
Continuous moderate degassing from the summit crater produced steam-laden plumes that rose 200 meters.
Sulfur dioxide emission averaged 1,582 tons, which Alanis said is high for Mayon.
International aid sought
As Mayon continues to be restive, Albay disaster management officials are carrying out contingency plans for the anticipated prolonged stay of displaced residents in evacuation centers.
Cedric Daep, Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office chief, said helplines with the international community had been established.
“Aside from the assistance that we are expecting from the national government, we are already establishing linkages with international donors that we are usually tapping in case we run out of relief provisions,” Daep told The STAR.
He said Mayon’s previous eruptions did not last for more than one month, and evacuees were sent home after two weeks at the latest.
“The previous Mayon eruptions took place very fast... These were short-lived. Our evacuees did not stay long in evacuation centers. We did not need much relief provisions then,” Daep said. — Cet Dematera.