Mayon Volcano unrest forces evacuation of 10,000 farm animals in Albay

The Albay provincial government has started evacuating some 10,000 farm animals within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ) of Mayon Volcano amid its continuous unrest.

“Nagsimula na rin po ang tinatawag na livestock evacuation. Inilabas natin ang ating mga hayop mula sa 6 kilometers papunta sa mas ligtas na lugar,” Eugene Escobar, officer-in-charge of Albay Public Safety and Management Office (APSEMO), told DzBB’s Super Radyo Monday evening.

(We started the livestock evacuation. We rescued the animals from the 6-km PDZ to a safer place.)

“Ito po ay para maiwasan ang pagbalik ng ating mga farmers. Ginawa ito ng Provincial Veterinary Office at hindi pa naman po tapos ang evacuation ng mga livestock pero nasimulan na at dahan-dahan po mailalagay na natin sila sa mas ligtas na lugar,” Escobar said.

(This is to avoid farmers from going back to their houses. The Provincial Veterinary Office led this ongoing process.)

In a statement, the Albay government said the affected animals came from 41 barangays from Sto. Domingo, Daraga, Guinobatan, Camalig, Maliliipot, Ligao City, Tabaco City, and Legazpi City.

Some of the evacuated livestock were cows, carabaos, and goats. Swine and dogs were not included because of lack of proper facilities and difficulty in maintenance.

The evacuated livestock will be temporarily housed in areas seven to eight kilometers away from the volcano, where they will be provided with feeds, non-feed supplies and veterinary support.

But in case the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) further raises Mayon Volcano’s alert level to 4, the animals will be moved to the assigned evacuation areas nine to ten kilometers away.

Mayon Volcano is currently under Alert Level 3 due to its magmatic unrest.

The Albay local government earlier extended the danger zone around Mayon Volcano to seven kilometers, indicating "all populations inside the seven-kilometer extended danger zone are placed under preparedness status."

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council earlier said that more than 14,000 residents were evacuated since the alert level around the volcano was raised. Of the figures, 13,792 individuals or 3,782 families are staying at 22 evacuation centers, while 584 people or 156 families are staying somewhere else.

Extended danger zone

The provincial government of Albay on Monday extended the danger zone around Mayon Volcano to seven kilometers due to its "increasing unrest."

In an advisory signed by Governor Edcel Greco Lagman, the Albay government said that "all populations inside the seven-kilometer extended danger zone is placed under preparedness status."

This meant that an "evacuation will be executed anytime" and evacuees "should bring with them necessities in the evacuation center."

This measure was taken to ensure zero casualties and for the interest of public safety.

The Albay government said the C/MDRRMOs and BDRRMC needed to be constantly ready to implement an evacuation anytime.

PHIVOLCS said earlier that it considered recommending the evacuation of residents beyond the six-kilometer radius of Mayon Volcano’s Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) due to a lava flow activity that took place Sunday evening.

Mayon Volcano is currently under Alert Level 3 due to its magmatic unrest.

So far, PHIVOLCS recorded 21 volcanic earthquakes, 260 rockfall events, and three pyroclastic density current events on Mayon Volcano in the past 24 hours. —LDF, GMA Integrated News