THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded 372 rockfall events at Mayon Volcano in Albay from Tuesday morning to Wednesday morning, the highest in a 24-hour period since June 8 when the agency placed the volcano under Alert Level 3.
Alert Level 3, the third highest, means Mayon is in a relatively high level of unrest as magma is at the crater and hazardous eruption within weeks or even days is possible, according to Phivolcs.
The rockfall events recorded from 5 a.m. Tuesday to 5 a.m. yesterday was 131 higher compared to the 241 rockfall events recorded by Phivolcs during the previous 24-hour monitoring period.
This was the seventh time Mayon posted more than 300 rockfall events since June 8.
In a bulletin yesterday, Phivolcs reported just one volcanic earthquake from 5 a.m. Tuesday to 5 a.m. yesterday, from the previous 107 — the highest number of quakes recorded since June 8.
Phivolcs said it also recorded seven pyroclastic density current events from Tuesday morning to Wednesday morning, from the previous 17 events.
Mayon’s sulfur dioxide emission increased to 964 tons, from previous 753 tons, Phivolcs also reported.
“In the past 24-hour period, very slow effusion of lava from the summit crater of Mayon Volcano continued to feed lava flows and collapse debris on the Mi-isi (south) and Bonga (southeastern) gullies,” Phivolcs said.
Mayon’s unrest has displaced 5,762 families or 20,134 residents, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.
Albay Gov. Edcel Greco Lagman said there is enough food for the evacuees.
“In terms of the response of the national government on food items, it’s good. But of course, there are gaps that should be filled up at the evacuation centers with respect to sanitation, health and hygiene,” Lagman told a radio interview.
“With respect to sanitation, we need sanitary kits, hygiene kits. These are the non-food items that need augmentation. With regards to food items, more or less we are okay, we have enough supplies stocked at provincial-owned warehouses,” he said.
Lagman appealed for more emergency cash transfer to the evacuees “so they can buy at nearby wet markets so the economy will continue, it will not be on standstill.”
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said government has released P1.858 million in cash assistance to 317 families staying in evacuation centers.
The cash aid was sourced from the office of Sen. Risa Hontiveros who visited Tabaco City and Guinobatan town and led the distribution of cash aid and food packs to evacuees, with the DSWD.
The DSWDs Field Office V also distributed 5,759 family food packs (FFPs) to other areas affected by the volcanic unrest.
Prior to Hontiveros’ visit, Senators Robin Padilla, Ramon Revilla Jr., JV Ejercito and Jinggoy Estrada also visited evacuees and distributed cash aid and relief packs to evacuees in different parts of Albay. The Office of Sen. Raffy Tulfo sent food packs and other relief items through DSWD.
Data from the DSWD’s Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) showed that 10,643 families (41,488 persons) from 26 barangays are affected by the volcanic unrest, including 5,761 families (20,138 persons) are displaced. Of the displaced, 5,353 families (18,706 persons) who are staying in 28 evacuation centers and 408 families (1,432 persons) are staying with relatives or friends, it said.
DSWD said P72.44 million worth of assistance from the department, local government units, non-governmental organizations and private partners has been distributed to the affected communities. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
