ADVERTISEMENT
Filtered By: Topstories
News

LOOK: Albay residents cope with ashfall from Mayon Volcano

By GMA News

+
Add GMA on Google
Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google.
The town of Camalig in Albay had ashfall from Mayon Volcano

Some towns in Albay experienced ashfall from Mayon Volcano on Saturday, and residents had to cope with its effects.

It was almost zero visibility on Maharlika Highway in the town of Camalig on Sunday morning, according to GMA News reporter Bea Pinlac.

 

 

The local government unit and residents joined hands in hosing down and sweeping the road to remove the ash to help motorists avoid accidents.

In Guinobatan, the road going to Camalig was also covered in ash on Sunday morning, Pinlac reported.

 

 

 

Firemen also helped in hosing down major roads covered in ash as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) started clearing operations, according to a report by Carlo Mateo on Super Radyo dzBB.

 

 

 

The DPWH also deployed personnel to help assist motorists.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon arrived in Albay on Sunday morning to check the clearing operations. He said he would also inspect waterways and drainage systems. 

 

 

"Sabi niya [Pangulong Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.] sa akin kagabi, diretso ako dito para masigurado na ma-clear natin kaagad... Kasi siyempre, grabe ang putok [ng Bulkang Mayon] kahapon, so ang dami [ng ashfall] eh," Dizon said.

(The President told me last night to go here straight to make sure that we get to clear everything immediately... Because of course, the ash clouds were huge yesterday, and so much ash fell.)

"Importante, ma-clear. Tapos tsetsekin ko rin 'yung mga drainage at mga waterways, kasi siguradong, kung may nag-flow, barado na naman 'yon. So kailangan natin... Kasi 'pag hindi mo na-clear, titigas eh di ba. So dapat ma-clear kaagad ngayon," he added.

(It is important that roads would be cleared. Then I will check the drainage and waterways because for sure, if the ash flowed into waterways, then these would be clogged. If you don't clear the drainage and waterways, the ash would harden. So those should be cleared today.)

Camalig

Aerial and ground photos of some areas in Camalig, Albay shared by Mayor Caloy Baldo on Facebook showed the extent of the ashfall effects on the town.

 

 

 

Residents were advised to stay indoors until authorities advise it is safe to go outdoors. Those who have to go out, however, were advised to wear an N95 mask to avoid having respiratory problems.

Farms in Camalig were also affected by the ashfall. In Barangay Anoling, thick ash covered ricefields and affected crops, as seen in photos shared by Mayor Baldo. 

 

 

At least five carabaos and two cows died due to the ashfall, while one other carabao and one cow were reported missing.

Local authorities continued to monitor the situation.

Evacuees

The Office of Civil Defense on Saturday said at least 52 barangays in Albay were affected by the ashfall.

Some residents evacuated amid fears for their safety, Bobby Cristobal, head of Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO), said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday morning.

The Coast Guard District-Bicol also advised residents near the foot of Mayon Volcano and nearby towns to be alert and ready, according to a report by Carlo Mateo on Super Radyo dzBB. Those affected should evacuate for their safety, it added. 

 

 

Meanwhile, more than 300,000 food and non-food items have been prepositioned in the Bicol Region for affected residents, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said. 

Alert Level 3, classes, flights

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said Sunday Alert Level 3 remains in effect at Mayon Volcano.

The volcano continued to show signs of intensified and magmatic unrest, such as lava effusion, volcanic earthquakes, and rockfall events, among others.

Classes in some areas for Monday, May 4, 2026, were suspended due to the ashfall effects.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said some flights were also canceled. The CAAP also issued a flight safety advisory around the volcano. —KG/RF, GMA News

Tags: Mayon volcano, Albay, Camalig Albay
Most Popular