ANOTHER MAYON Volcano eruption was recorded at 10:33 a.m. yesterday as mudflows make their way into some roads in surrounding areas amid rains over the weekend. The perfect-shaped volcano, which has been highly active in the past two weeks, has slowed down since Friday, allowing for the reopening of the nearby airport in Legazpi City, but with authorities still warning pilots to observe “extreme caution” against the ash. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) also maintains an alert level 4 out of 5 and a nine-kilometer radius no-go zone.

EVACUEES
As of Saturday morning, Jan. 27, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has recorded 21,701 families or 84,449 persons from 59 barangays in Albay affected by the eruption. Of this number, 67,741 people are taking temporary shelter in 94 evacuation centers set up by local government units while the rest are with relatives in other parts of the province.

MUDLFOW
Millions of tons of ash and rock from Mayon could bury nearby communities due to heavy rain, authorities said Saturday. Rainwater could combine with the volcanic ash and rock to form deadly, fast-moving mudflows — called “lahars” — that could sweep away entire settlements, Phivolcs said. “The important thing is to move out in case of heavy rains… this is a precautionary measure,” Phivolcs Director Renato U. Solidum told AFP. Phivolcs earlier said that 25 million cubic metres of ash and other volcanic material had recently been emitted by Mayon, settling on its slopes and elsewhere nearby. Weather bureau PAGASA, in its weekly outlook issued yesterday, forecasts daily rains in Legazpi City until Thursday, Feb. 1. — with a report from AFP

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