OCD to decamp 55 families in Albay evacuation center after lowering of Mayon's alert level
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has ordered its Bicol office to decamp around 55 families that are housed in an evacuation center in Camalig, Albay after it downgraded its emergency alert status when the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) lowered Mayon Volcano’s alert level.
The 55 families that were transferred to an evacuation center funded by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) are composed of 195 individuals.
In a statement, the OCD said it already downgraded its alert status from red to blue, which means half of its manpower is on standby for heightened monitoring on the matter.
“This does not mean, however, that the Mayon's activities have decreased since the edifice remained inflated and sulfur dioxide emissions were still high, according to state seismologists,” the statement read.
“This was why OCD advised all Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (LDRRMO) to continue monitoring Mayon Volcano’s status and other hazards that could impact the communities nearby,” it added.
In June this year, Phivolcs hoisted alert level 3 over Mayon Volcano due to increased volcanic activities.
On Friday, Dec. 8, the alert status was downgraded to Alert Level 2 due to the decreasing sulfur dioxide emission and stabilizing and diminishing of incandescent lava deposits in recent days, among other developments.
The OCD said its Albay team would still monitor 24/7 any developments on the Mayon Volcano and its impact on the residents, including the hazards that might persist due to its activities.