Military medical teams sent to Mayon evacuees

By: Bong Lozada - 10 years ago

HOT Glowing lava cascades down Mayon Volcano in this shot taken from Legazpi City in Albay province. Authorities have evacuated thousands of residents at the foot of the country’s most active volcano in anticipation of a possible deadly eruption within weeks, according to Phivolcs. Safe areas for viewing have been designated for tourists who are expected to come in droves like in the 2009 eruption. AFP

HOT Glowing lava cascades down Mayon Volcano in this shot taken from Legazpi City in Albay province. AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – After residents inside the permanent danger zone of Mayon Volcano have been evacuated, the Armed Forces of the Philippines will be sending medical teams to ensure their health.

Major General Ricardo Visaya, Southern Luzon Command Chief, said two teams of doctors and nurses would go to the evacuation centers in Albay.

“Solcom is now in the process of preparing medical teams and packs of relief goods to be sent to the evacuation centers in Albay,” Visaya said.

As of 9:00 a.m. Thursday, Solcom has evacuated and put 5,694 families or 22,336 people in shelters.

Breakdown is as follows:

* Ligao City (422 families/1,915 people),
*Tabaco City (456 families/1,922 people),
*Guinobatan (649 families/2,307 people),
*Camalig (1,492 families/5,733),
*Daraga (1,869 families/7,476 people),
*Malilipot (722 families/2,983 people), and
*Santo Domingo (84 families/2,983 people).

Visaya said “chokepoints” or areas where residents are allowed to pass were in place in and around the six-kilometer permanent danger zone.

“Troops are also manning strategic chokepoints to prevent residents from entering danger zones,” Visaya said.

Augmenting the government troops in manning chokepoints are local village vanguards.

Visaya said those who would try to return to the danger zones were residents who would like to see their homes.