12,000 flee Mayon’s restlessness

More than 3,000 families, or about 12,000 individuals, have evacuated from the Mount Mayon, as the volcano continued emitting ash and smoke on Monday.

In a press briefing, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Spokesperson Romina Marasigan said the number of evacuees due to Mayon’s volcanic activities had reached 3,061 families or 12,044 persons from Kamalig, Guinobatan and Malilipot towns in Albay.

The figures exclude families forced to evacuate.

Local government units (LGUs) are currently conducting forced evacuation in Daraga and Legazpi, Albay due to the recorded lava flow near Brgy. Miisi, Daraga early Monday.

“Yung mga kababayan natin sa Bicol lalo sa Albay ibayong pag-iingat dahil anytime na pumutok maaaring maging peligroso sa atin at sa mga pamilya,” Marasigan said.

Last Sunday, Marasigan said the six-kilometer danger zone around Mayon had been extended to eight kilometers after authorities reported that the volcano’s crater glowed, an indication of an upcoming lava flow.

Marasigan assured the public that the NDRRMC as coordinating with Albay’s local government units and regional risk reduction and management agencies to ensure the safety of people in the affected areas.

“Use gas mask, pero kung wala, panyo or bimpo at basain ito para ma-filter yung ash. Yung mga turista pwede pa rin pumunta pero susunod sa designated areas or danger zones,” she added.

Mayon was emitting grayish to white ash or steam, as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised its alert status to level 3, which means it has an increased tendency to erupt. /cbb

READ: Alert Level 3 raised over Mount Mayon