LGUs ready for possible evacuation due to Mayon Volcano unrest —OCD

The local government units near Mayon Volcano are prepared in case residents would be required to evacuate due to the volcano’s current unrest, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Wednesday.

“Anytime na just in case na lumalala ang sitwasyon ay ready tayong mag-evacuate. Pati ‘yung assistance na puwedeng ibigay sa ating mga kababayan na maaapektuhan is naka-ready rin naman,” OCD information officer Diego Mariano said in a televised public briefing.

(In case the situation worsens, we are ready anytime to evacuate. The assistance that will be given to our affected countrymen is also ready.)

PHIVOLCS on Monday raised the alert level status of Mayon Volcano from Level 1 to 2. This means there is current unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes that could eventually lead to phreatic eruptions or even precede hazardous magmatic eruptions.

PHIVOLCS said the volcano in Albay may either have a “quiet” eruption with rockfall and minor lava flow like in 2014, or is already preparing for a major eruption with small bursts and a major lava flow like in 2018.

Aside from Mayon Volcano, recent activities were also recorded in Taal and Kanlaon volcanoes, which are both under Alert Level 1, signifying low-level unrest.

Despite the fact that no major movements have been observed yet in the three active volcanoes, Mariano said the OCD continues to be on alert.

He also said that the quick response fund and standby fund are enough to provide assistance to affected residents should there be any eruptions.

“Patuloy ang ating pagmo-monitor, page-ensure na walang tao sa mga permanent danger zones at page-ensure na naka-ready [at] nakalatag ang preparedness measures in case tumaas pa ang alert level nitong mga bulkan na ito,” he added.

(We continue to monitor and ensure that there are no people in the permanent danger zones, and that the preparedness measures are in place in case the alert level of these volcanoes is raised.) —KBK, GMA Integrated News