LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Disaster officials asked the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to put up markers around Mayon Volcano’s permanent danger zone (PDZ) as evacuees continue to sneak into restricted areas to visit the houses they left and to harvest palay despite the Army’s tightened security.
“Some of them even argued with our men by asking them where the markers are to prove they are outside the PDZ,” said Task Force Mayon commander Col. Raul Farnacio.
He said evacuees caught inside the PDZ play a game of cat and mouse with the Army and barangay officials tasked to keep the restricted areas free from human activity.
“Some of them run away to evade my men, but eventually they are caught,” Farnacio said, noting that evacuees are risking their lives whenever they go home.
The electricity supply in Camalig town, Malilipot town and Tabaco City has been cut off for safety reasons.
Phivolcs said it would maintain Mayon’s Alert Level 3 despite the absence of volcanic earthquakes and rock fall events and low sulfur dioxide emission rate.