12,000 residents moved from Mayon danger zone
12/15/2009 | 04:30 PM
Nearly 12,000 people or 3,000 families living at the foot of the restive Mayon Volcano in Albay province have already been evacuated after state volcanologists raised the volcano's alert level from two to three on Monday evening, officials said Tuesday.
As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, a total of 2,611 families or 11,981 people from the towns of Malilipot, Daraga, Camalig, Guinubatan, Ligao and the city of Tabaco have been transferred to safer grounds.
Rafael Alejandro, director of the Office of the Civil Defense-Bicol Region, said the evacuation of residents around Mayon's six-kilometer permanent danger zone and one-kilometer southeast sector started 8 a.m. Tuesday.
"The evacuation is ongoing... [this was prompted by] the raising of level 3 in Mayon, it has increased activity. Under Level 3, the eruption is eminent," he said.
According to Alejandro, the government is aiming to evacuate over 9,000 families more or about 47,000 people in the next three days.
In Malacañang, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) through acting Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales to monitor the situation in Albay.
Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral has been likewise tasked to prepare for the distribution of relief assistance to residents who will need the government’s help.
Nonetheless, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the Albay Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) is so far in control of the situation.
"The Albay PDCC has been one of the most active in disaster risk reduction and management... Let’s all pray na hanggang diyan lang iyong rumblings ng Mount Mayon," Remonde said. - Aie Balagtas See/RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV
As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, a total of 2,611 families or 11,981 people from the towns of Malilipot, Daraga, Camalig, Guinubatan, Ligao and the city of Tabaco have been transferred to safer grounds.
Rafael Alejandro, director of the Office of the Civil Defense-Bicol Region, said the evacuation of residents around Mayon's six-kilometer permanent danger zone and one-kilometer southeast sector started 8 a.m. Tuesday.
"The evacuation is ongoing... [this was prompted by] the raising of level 3 in Mayon, it has increased activity. Under Level 3, the eruption is eminent," he said.
See the complete table on the Phivolcs website.
According to Alejandro, the government is aiming to evacuate over 9,000 families more or about 47,000 people in the next three days.
In Malacañang, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) through acting Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales to monitor the situation in Albay.
Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral has been likewise tasked to prepare for the distribution of relief assistance to residents who will need the government’s help.
Nonetheless, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the Albay Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) is so far in control of the situation.
"The Albay PDCC has been one of the most active in disaster risk reduction and management... Let’s all pray na hanggang diyan lang iyong rumblings ng Mount Mayon," Remonde said. - Aie Balagtas See/RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV
