Rains stall evacuation in Mayon communities

LEGAZPI CITY - Heavy rains stalled yesterday efforts to evacuate villagers within the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone around Mayon Volcano which has become more restive, prompting government volcanologists to raise the alert level the other day.

Manuel Realuyo, deputy chief of the provincial disaster management office, said a general evacuation has been ordered for 5,141 residents of Barangays Buhlan, Magapo and Buang in Tobaco town, Calbayog in Malilipot, Milsi in Daraga, and Anoling, Upper Quirangay, Upper Calbayog and Upper Sua in Camalig.

But despite the order, Realuyo bewailed that "there has been a slow response from the affected residents who are still staying within the danger zone."

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said yesterday that "fresh magma" or hot molten rock continues to ascend towards the volcano's crater and that the emission of sulfurous gas has increased from 1,500 to 5,700 tons.

The institute recorded a low level of seismic activity - one high-frequency and three low-frequency volcanic earthquakes and two short-duration harmonic tremors during a 24-hour period - but attributed this to the failure of seismic instruments at the base of the volcano to monitor the ascent of hot molten rock.

Members of the regional disaster coordinating council met at Camp Ola yesterday. "Our goal is zero casualty," said Bicol police director Marcelo Navarro Jr. as he urged member-agencies to work closely to efficiently respond to the needs of the evacuees.

Weather forecasters told the council that continuous rain, brought about by the tailend of a cold front, could dislodge loose lahar deposits at the slopes of the volcano.