Authorities evacuate 10,000 locals living in Mayon Volcano's danger zone

Authorities on Friday started the evacuation of 2,400 families or 10,000 individuals living within the four-kilometer radius permanent danger zone (PDZ) of Mayon Volcano.

According to Jessica Calinog’s report on “24 Oras”, about 390 families living in Barangay Misi in Daraga — which is outside the PDZ — were also evacuated.

“Due to the eruption na nangyari, inilipat sila dito sa baba para ang mga livelihood nila, mga farms nandyan sa six-kilometer, five-kilometer danger zone. Kaya para maiwasan na magbalik-balik sila in-evacuate na natin ang buong barangay,” said Daraga Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Head Bim Dineros said.

(Due to an eruption that occurred, we will transfer them here. To prevent them from going back and forth to their livelihood, we evacuated the whole barangay.)

Meanwhile, some of the evacuees were concerned after they were moved to another location and another shelter.

“Masakit sa loob kasi palipat-lipat tapos lalo na, gaya nito, buntis pa tapos may anak pa,” a resident said.

(It’s difficult especially for me because I’m pregnant and taking care of a child.)

The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWD) explained this was due to the instruction of the evacuation committee.

“There was an instruction coming from the evacuation committee, sa barangay council, specifically kay kapitan na lahat ng darating na wala pang assignment dito, standby muna. Dyan sa Bañadero Covered Court. Such that, as of their control, in-allow na magparasok na doon sa mga rooms na di po talaga dapat,” said Maricel Ordinario of MSWD Daraga.

(There was an instruction from the evacuation committee, specifically from the barangay chairperson that those without assignment should be on standby at the Bañadero Covered Court. But they allowed evacuees to enter rooms.)

“Kailangan natin talaga i-reconcile 'yun. Di natin pwedeng i-allow 'yung ganun because baka mas magkaroon tayo ng problema later,” she said.

(We need to reconcile the evacuation plan. We can’t allow this because that might cause more problems.)

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised the alert status of Mayon Volcano from 2 to 3 on Thursday afternoon. But elevating it further to Alert Level 4 remained possible.

In case of an Alert Level 4, Albay's public safety officials said they would evacuate an additional 4,600 families or 16,000 individuals from the seven to eight-kilometer radius extended danger zone. — Sundy Locus/DVM, GMA Integrated News