Albay prepares against lahar as Typhoon Ruby approaches

The provincial government of Albay has doubled its efforts to prepare against lahar or mudflows amid reports of volcanic quakes at Mayon Volcano.
 

 

GMA News TV's "Balitanghali" reported Saturday that at least 30,000 families were evacuated away from areas surrounding the volcano.

 

Gov. Joey Salceda said they were part of 120,00 families or nearly half the population of Albay that were evacuated during mandatory preemptive evacuations that started on Friday.

 

Most of the evacuated were from settlements near the ocean and river, as their homes were vulnerable to storm surges and landslides.

 

Public Storm Warning Signal No. 3 was raised in Albay and other areas in the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas as Ruby advances to eastern and northern Samar.

 

Though it has weakened slightly, Ruby is predicted to make landfall in Dolores, Eastern Samar on Saturday night. — Rie Takumi/JDS, GMA News