Albay orders evacuation of residents in lahar-prone, high-risk areas 

INQUIRER FILES

LEGAZPI CITY — The Albay government ordered on Tuesday, Oct. 22, the evacuation of residents living in high-risk areas due to the threat of the continuous rains brought by Tropical Storm Kristine.

Acting Gov. Baby Glenda Bongao said all families must be evacuated before 5 p.m. from areas prone to flooding, landslides, and lahar from Mayon Volcano.

Bongao instructed the Department of Education to prepare the schools to be used as temporary shelters for the affected families.

In a separate advisory, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned the residents near the river channels and gullies to be vigilant for possible lahar flow.

Phivolcs said potential lahar and sediment-laden streamflows may occur along channels in Mi-isi and Binaan in Daraga town; Anoling in Camalig; Quirangay, Maninila, Masarawag, and Muladbucad in Guinobatan; Nasisi in Ligao City; Mabinit, Matanag, Bonga and Buyuan in Legazpi City; and Basud and Bulawan in Sto. Domingo town.

“Mayon lahars can threaten communities along the middle and lower slopes and downstream of these channels with inundation, burial, and washout,” Phivolcs said in the advisory.

The heavy rains triggered flooding and landslides in the province, prompting evacuations and rendering roads impassable.

In Polangui town, a landslide blocked the road in Sitio Barobo in Barangay Sugcad on Tuesday morning.

Motorists were advised to take the Pintor-Kinuartelan-La Purisima-Matacon road and vice versa.

In Camalig, the Comun Cotmon bridge was also impassable due to the swelling river. Residents near the area were already evacuated.

Motorists were also advised to take precautions while crossing the road in Barangay Inarado in Daraga town due to debris and ankle-deep water.

Debris from Mayon Volcano and floods threaten motorists in Barangay Masarawag in Guinobatan town.

In Sto. Domingo town, heavy rains caused soil erosion at a roadside in Barangay Calayucay at around 10 a.m.

Some residents in Barangay Aurora and nearby areas were evacuated in Jovellar town due to flooding.

Meanwhile, the Albay Veterinary Office (AVO) reminded owners to ensure their pets and livestock are taken to secure areas.

AVO told owners in a social media post that the pets and livestock must be moved to higher and dryer areas with food stock that could last for at least three to four days.

The agency also reminded that cages must be kept in good condition and that pets and livestock are well fed and given shots and vitamins to strengthen their resistance to illnesses and stress.