Albay already preparing for hazardous lahar during rainy season

Hazardous lahar flows may hit Albay during the rainy season as experts have recorded 81 million cubic meters of volcanic materials from Mayon Volcano since its initial eruption last January 13.

A Balitanghali report said the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) is already preparing an evacuation plan for residents of Guinabatan and Camalig towns due to the threat of lahar during the rainy season.

The APSEMO fears that the volcanic material deposited in Mayon Volcano's gullies may be remobilized during the rainy season in June and July.

According to the plan, six to seven barangays will be immediately evacuated once the rainfall reaches the 22 millimeter per hour rate.

The APSEMO said its evacuation teams will only have a two- to three-hour lead to evacuate residents once lahar flows along riverbeds.

It said that aside from Guinobatan and Camalig town, Legaspi City will also be at risk if lahar flows into the Yawa River and if the volcanic materials' deposit at the Miisi Gulley would turn into lahar.

The APSEMO also projects that the town of Sto. Domingo will be in danger from lahar if it flows down the Basud River.

In the worst lahar scenario by the APSEMO, roads in the affected areas in the province will be rendered impassable by strong lahar current that can move a bulldozer..

In the foreseeable road closures, APSEMO said emergency vehicles will be on standby along the Camalig and Legazpi-Sto. Domingo roads.

Mayon Volcano's erratic activity started with a phreatic eruption on January 13.

In a matter of days, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) heightened the alert level on Mayon from 2 to 4.

Mayon Volcano has since spewed tons of lava, ash and pyroclastic materials.

At least 70,000 people have been displaced by the volcano's activity in Bacacay, Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao City, Daraga, Tabaco City, Malilipot, Santo Domingo and Legazpi City. —report by Mark Zambrano/Margaret Claire Layug/ALG, GMA News