Ashfall reported in Legazpi City due to restive Mayon Volcano
Published Jun 9, 2023 08:19 am
Residents in Legazpi City, Albay were advised to wear N95 masks and other protective gears to keep themselves safe from the possible harmful effects of ashfall that was monitored due to the recent activities of Mayon Volcano.
*Mayon Volcano (File photo)
* Apple Armenia, administration officer of the Legazpi City disaster risk reduction and management office (CDRRMO), said they have coordinated with the Department of Health (DOH) to distribute N95 masks to locals in the city. “Mayroon pong ashfall na reported sa Legazpi City (There is an ashfall incident reported in. Legazpi City),” Armenia said in a radio interview with dzBB on Friday, June 9. A monitoring of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Friday showed that an 800-meter ash plume was recorded at Mayon Volcano. “Nagready na po kami, pinaigting namin and information and education campaign (IEC) with regards to ashfall, kung ano ang epekto nito (We have prepared, we intensified our information and education campaign with regards to ashfall’s effects),” she added. The DOH warned that having a direct contact to ashfall may result to nose and throat irritation, coughing, bronchitis-like illness, discomfort while breathing, eye irritation, and minor skin problems among others. Mayon Volcano was placed under Alert Level 3 by the Phivolcs due to an increase in its volcanic activities which included 199 rockfall events and six pyroclastic density currents, or the emission of hot ash and debris, within the past 24 hours. There was also a crater glow and ground deformation at Mayon which indicate a possibility of an eruption. Armenia said no evacuation has been implemented yet in Legazpi City since there are no residents within the six-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ). However, those residing within the extended eight-km radius PDZ were told to be ready for evacuation any time. There is one village located inside the eight-km PDZ which is Barangay Mabinit, and it is home to around 500 families. “In-activate na po natin ang mga barangay na magmonitor at maging preparado sa posibleng evacuation kapag tumaaas ang level ng Mayon Volcano (We activated our barangay monitoring teams so they could prepare for possible evacuation once the alert level of Mayon Volcano further rises),” Armenia said. Food packs and other essential relief items were also prepared by Legazpi CDRRMO in case an evacuation is ordered. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) ) has issued a memorandum to OCD Bicol Region and Calabarzon to heighten their monitoring and close coordination with local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils and support agencies to ensure the safety of the communities near Mayon Volcano. “Mayon Volcano is now at Alert Level 3. We call on the communities in the area to always follow the warnings and orders of authorities such as the evacuation inside the six-km radius Permanent Danger Zone or PDZ. This is due to the danger of pyroclastic density currents, lava flows, rockfalls and other volcanic hazards in Mayon Volcano,” said OCD Administrator Undersec. Ariel Nepomuceno.