Mayon evacuees: 2,000 families return home

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — Around 2,000 families from three towns in Albay have returned to their homes after almost four months of staying in evacuation centers due to Mayon Volcano’s unrest, the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (Apsemo) reported yesterday.

Eugene Escobar, Apsemo officer-in-charge, said the evacuees are from Daraga, Guinobatan and Sto. Domingo.

“We did not prevent them... because their houses are located outside the six-kilometer permanent danger zone,” Escobar said.

Escobar said more than 3,000 families remain in evacuation centers in Tabaco City, Ligao City, Camalig and Malilipot.

He said the evacuees are residing within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone.

Mayon remains under Alert Level 3 due to continuous lava effusion and other abnormal parameters.