Phivolcs warns of possible lahar near Albay river systems

LEGAZPI CITY—As Albay experiences heavy rains brought by the tail-end of a cold front Saturday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned local government units and communities near river channels of possible syn-eruption lahars, or a combination of pyroclastic density currents and rainwater.

According to their latest bulletin, Phivolcs has recorded 21 tremors, 10 volcanic quakes, 21 rock fall events and one pyroclastic density current over Mayon Volcano, which is still under Alert Level 4 during the past 24 hours.

“Phivolcs therefore warns of potential lahars and sediment-laden streamflows on all river channels draining the slopes of Mayon Volcano especially the Buyuan, Miisi, Mabinit, Basud, San Vicente, Buang, Quirangay and Masarawag-Maninila,” the institute warned in their advisory released at 10:30 a.m.

As of this writing, 79,586 persons (20,675 families) remained inside 60 evacuation centers in Legazpi City, Tabaco City, Ligao City, Guinobatan, Camalig, Daraga, Sto. Domingo, Malilipot, and Bacacay.