Albay disaster plan in place for possible Mt. Mayon eruption

By Mar S. Arguelles

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 17 (PNA) - The Albay Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) on Wednesday said that disaster preparedness action plan is now in place and ready for implementation in the event Mayon volcano’s exhibits possible signs of an eruption.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda, PDCC chairman, said disaster operating scenarios have been drawn up and ready for execution in times the volcano’s abnormal behavior turns worst.

He said various local disaster councils have been advised to execute mass evacuation once the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raises the volcano’s alert status from 2 to 3, meaning the volcano's abnormal state is alarming.

The Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) records indicate that there are 1,675 families or 6,996 people to be evacuated to safer grounds in the towns of Malilipot, Daraga, Camalig and Guinobatan including the cities of Ligao and Tabaco once alert level 3 is raised.

APSEMO records also show that there are some 35 trucks from the Joint Task Force Mayon of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) available for dispatch once Alert Level 3 is declared by Phivolcs to undertake mass evacuation of residents near the six-km Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) including the 7-km Extended Danger Zone (EDZ).

Meanwhile, Phivolcs reported that Mt. Mayon's restiveness continues to increase, signified by surging seismicity, sulfur dioxide emissions, intense crate glow and recently, ash puffing.

Seismic instrument recorded 20 volcanic quakes took place for the past 24-hour period as compared to six quakes detected on Monday.

The volcano disgorged 682 tons of sulfur dioxide yesterday, a little above the normal rate of 500 tons per day. Scientists are baffled over the fluctuating rate of disgorge by the volcano.

Ed Laguerta said they are closely observing the varying precursors displayed recently by the 2400-meter high volcano.

Ground deformation results reveal that the Buang Leveling Line indicates a 5.00-mm deflation relative to the July survey, while the Lidong Leveling Line showed a one-mm deflation relative to the July survey.

Phivolcs reiterated its advisory that the 6 km PDZ and the 7 km EDZ in the southeast quadrant should be off limits to any human activity due to the threats from sudden explosions and rockfalls from the upper slopes of the volcano. (PNA)