Authorities on alert for lahar flows from Mayon

With the recent rainy weather, local officials in Albay province are on alert for possible lahar flows from restive Mayon Volcano.

 

Officials do not want a repeat of the heavy damage caused by a lahar flow eight years ago, GMA News' Isay Reyes reported on "24 Oras."

 

Among the most tightly guarded areas is Barangay Anoling in Camalig town, which is within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone.

 

Lahar deposits are present in some areas there, along with rocks from previous eruptions.

 

Still, some residents are still return to the area to tend to their animals.

 

Soldiers keep watch in the area aware that residents are likely to go back to their animals and farms there.

 

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Monday night raised the alert level at Mayon to "3," meaning an eruption is possible.

 

Albay officials evacuated thousands of residents in the danger zones to safer grounds.

 

Lahar had flowed from Mayon Volcano to nearly 30 barangays in 2006, when super Typhoon Reming lashed the Bicol region.

 

Some 1,200 were reported killed and 1,400 were injured that time.
 

Tropical Storm Mario
 

Officials are also keeping track of Tropical Storm Mario (Fung-Wong), which is moving toward Northern Luzon, to determine if the rain it brings will affect Albay.

 

Catanduanes in Bicol was one of the areas under Storm Signal No. 1 as of 5 p.m.

 

Meanwhile, some of the evacuees received starter kits that included mosquito nets, blankets and mats.

 

The recipients included evacuees at the Camalig North Central School, according to GMA News' Isay Reyes.

 

Earlier, Albay completed the evacuation of residents up to the eight-kilometer extended danger zone, though some residents still went back to the six-kilometer danger zone to look after their animals.

 

Some 9,000 families were evacuated from their homes. —Joel Locsin/NB, GMA News