Preemptive evacuations start for residents in Mt. Mayon’s 9-km extended danger zone

LEGAZPI CITY—The Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) ordered on Tuesday the pre-emptive evacuation of thousands of residents living in the 9-kilometer Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) in preparation for the imminent raising of the volcano’s alert level to 5 (hazardous explosive eruption) by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Cedric Daep, APSEMO chief, said the evacuation order was a preemptive disaster measure to keep residents living inside the 9-km EDZ safe when a full-blown hazardous eruption takes place any time soon.

Affected by the preemptive evacuation are villages in the towns of Sto. Domingo, Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, and the cities of Legazpi and Ligao.

These are areas in the southwest flank of the volcano where lava, pyroclastic flows and heavy ash falls events were occurring, Daep said.

Phivolcs on Monday raised the volcano’s alert level to 4 after Mayon billowed two successive 10-km cauliflower type ash columns, sending heavy ash falls in the towns of Camalig, Guinobatan, and Ligao City.

The volcano’s intense restiveness was followed by pyroclastic blasts, lava fountaining and flows Monday night and Tuesday morning.

Daep said they have already submitted a proposal asking for the immediate release of P100-million augmentation funds to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC). The augmentation funds would finance relief, medical and sanitation operation including infrastructure facilities in various evacuation centers.#