13.02.2018

Update on the Recent Activity of Mayon Volcano

Just barely a month after three typhoons devastated areas of East Visayas and Northwest Mindanao, here comes another natural calamity, this time affecting the southern Luzon area, specifically the Bicol Region. Mayon Volcano in Albay Prov-ince is a main tourist destination due to its naturally perfect cone figure. Recently, it has shown some activity ranging from steam emissions to pyroclastic effusions. The latest up-date of 5-6 February 2018 reports high volumes of effused lava and the alert level remains at 4 on a 0-5 scale. This is ex-pected to continue for the next three months with possible hazardous explosions, as the amount of magma it has spewed is just half of its capacity.
Residents within the danger zone has long evacuated. The places affected include five towns: Camalig, Daraga, Guino-batan, Malilipot, and Santo Domingo; three cities: Legazpi, Ligao, and Tabaco; and more than 60 barangays. In the beginning, 38 evacuation centers were opened to accommodate about 36,868 persons or 9,482 families. Now, evacuation centers have almost doubled in number as the number of evacuees have swelled. According to the latest report of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office, there are now around 20,500 families or 84,000 persons temporarily staying in 72 evacuation centers. There is dire need for food, clean water, clothing and beddings.
Monitoring and quick-reaction teams (QRT) from the South Bicol Conference of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) have been sent to the evacuation centers. They have seen the effect of the swelling of the number of evacuees. The already crammed up rooms in evacuation centers hold a minimum of 20 families to a maximum of 47 families per room. This is making life even harder for the displaced. Harsh health and sanitation situations are experienced. Health authorities have reported that there are around 2,000 evacuees already suffering from respiratory illnesses, many of whom are children.
Rev. Dan Balucio, acting coordinator of the UCCP QRT, says that those outside the Permanent Danger Zone and the Extended Danger Zone may not be at risk of lava and lahar flow and pyroclastic materials, but are at risk of respiratory illnesses caused by ash fall.
Damage to agriculture according to the Department of Agriculture is estimated at P160 Million already. Crops particularly affected are rice and vegetables. Let us continue praying for and collectively help our brothers and sisters in the province of Albay. Rannieh Mercado (UCCP)