Mayon Volcano debris partially buries Albay villages as storm hits Bicol

READ: LIVE UPDATES: Tropical Storm Kristine

Raging floodwaters in Tiwi, Albay due to Tropical Storm Kristine

GUINOBATAN, Albay — At least three villages in this town were partially buried by volcanic debris from Mayon Volcano after heavy rains from Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) caused widespread flooding across the Bicol Region.

Mayor Chino Garcia told the Inquirer that volcanic aggregates were swept into the villages when the Masarawag-Maninila River Channel overflowed.

“This has become normal for Masarawag in recent years,” Garcia said.

Masarawag village lies within the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone (PDZ) of Mayon, and only a portion of its residents are usually evacuated during typhoons.

However, no evacuations were carried out as efforts focused on Maninila and Tandarora villages, which are prone to isolation during storms. These villages also saw lahar flows bury parts of their communities.

Garcia noted that ongoing desilting programs initiated by the Albay provincial government in 2023 helped reduce the impact of the debris.

Quarry operators, working with government permits, remove blockages and excess debris during the operations.

“If there had been no desilting, the damage would have been far worse,” Garcia said.

No casualties or missing persons were reported in the three affected villages. However, a tragedy struck in Libas village, where two residents lost their lives in an unexpected landslide.

Rescue efforts for four residents trapped by the landslide began at 9 p.m. on Tuesday and ended at 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, but two of them did not survive.

GRAPHIC: Ed Lustan