Villagers evacuated in 8 Albay barangays due to lahar

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — At least 381 families or 1,039 villagers from eight lahar-prone barangays in Daraga town in Albay were evacuated Friday morning.

Alex Comia, Daraga municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer, said the evacuees were from Barangays Miisi, Alcala, Bañadero, Matnog, Binitayan, Tagas, Malabog and Busay.

“Many evacuees are now staying at school houses and barangay halls,” said Comia.

Most of the casualties during Super Typhoon Reming in 2006 were villagers whose houses were constructed near the Yawa River channel, the main tributary of lahar from the upper slope that flows toward Albay Gulf.   

The Office of Civil Defense said some 60 families had been evacuated in Camarines Norte.

Bicol would be affected by 30 to 50 kilometers per hour peripheral wind from Typhoon Ompong, which will also induce sustained heavy rains causing floods, landslides and lahar flows along river channels on the slopes of Mayon Volcano, the state weather bureau said.

Arnel Garcia, Bicol-Department of Social Welfare and Development regional director, said food packs were being readied for distribution to the  affected areas of Albay (2,000), Camarines Norte (2,000), Camarines Sur (5,000), Catanduanes (5,800) and Sorsogon (1,000), including standby fund amounting to P5 million.