Rain may worsen situation as Mayon evacuation soars— OCD exec

MANILA, Philippines — Heavy rainfall might impede evacuations as Mayon Volcano’s unrest continues, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) chief, Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno warned Monday.

Nepomuceno said the number of evacuees could double once the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raises Mayon’s alert level to 4 or more.

Another challenge, however, is if Mayon’s turbulence coincides with rain.

“Ang mas malaking dilemma lang po, pag nag-Level 4 na, at sinabayan po ito ng ulan na sana wag mangyari, yun yung medyo challenging po,” said Nepomuceno during the Laging Handa Public Briefing.

(The more significant dilemma is that if it reaches Level 4 and coincides with rain, it is quite challenging.)

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has recently declared the beginning of the rainy season, wherein the southwest monsoon or habagat is expected to be enhanced.

READ: Keep umbrellas handy: Pagasa officially declares rainy season

“Ang maaring challenging lang po, from Level 3, ‘pag ginawa yang Level 4, hanggang Level 5 ng Phivolcs, halos madodoble po ang ating mga aalalayan doon sa 22 evacuation centers, madadagdagan sila dahil sa ngayon po, mayroon tayong 5,492 families na nasa evacuation centers, sa Level 3 po yan,” explained Nepomuceno.

(The possible challenge is that from Level 3, if Phivolcs raises it to Level 4 until Level 5, the number of people we need to assist in 22 evacuation centers will double, as there will be more of them because, for now, we have 5,492 families in evacuation centers — that is just for Level 3.)

Nepumuceno, however, assured that the government still can care for all the evacuees.

Albay is still under Alert Level 3, which means there is relatively high unrest, and “volcanic quakes and tremors may become more frequent,” said the Phivolcs website.

The government has been gearing up for a long-term response, as state volcanologists foresee that Mayon’s unrest could last months.

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