Lava flows nearing 6-km danger zone boundary [Mayon volcano]

[A_flyer]

Lava flows nearing 6-km danger zone boundary

The Philippine Star - August 3, 2006

LEGAZPI CITY — Albay Gov. Fernando Gonzales ordered the formation of a security team to prevent onlookers from getting close to lava flows which have gotten near the boundary of the six-kilometer permanent danger zone at the southeast flank of Mayon Volcano.

Jaime Sinsioco, officer-in-charge of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology’s volcano monitoring and eruption prediction division, said lava has advanced up to 5.9 kilometers in Barangays Mabinit and Bunga in Legazpi City.

Sinsioco, however, said there are no houses in the affected area, thus they see no need to expand the danger zone.

"But the advancing lava flows are causing fire on the vegetation," he said.

Every day, the lava, according to Sinsioco, advances by 100 to 300 meters down the slopes of Mayon.

In a bulletin, Phivolcs said Mayon’s sulfur dioxide emission has gone down but earthquakes and tremor episodes continued.

Gonzales was concerned that onlookers might be caught by pyroclastic flows as what happened in 1993 when 77 farmers were killed when Mayon suddenly spewed ash.

The governor has designated the Cagsawa Ruins, Our Lady of the Gate Church, elevated areas in Daraga town, the Lignon Hill, the Legazpi City airport, and the Mayon International Hotel, among others, as Mayon viewing sites.

"There is still a high probability that the volcano will soon erupt," said resident volcanologist Ed Laguerta.

He said Mayon has extruded about 18 million cubic meters of hot molten rocks since July 15.

"The lava flows are not so dangerous compared to the pyroclastic flows because the danger zone can be extended as lava flows," he said.

The only danger with slow moving lava is that it burns everything on its path, he added.
— Celso Amo, Cet Dematera and Sheila Crisostomo

[scotsfiancee]

So thankful that im too far away to that place but at the same time i took pity to my Kababayan out there

[A_flyer]

Mayon lava flows don’t threaten residential areas, aerial survey shows

By Celso Amo
The Philippine Star - August 7, 2006

LEGAZPI CITY — Lava flowing down the slopes of Mayon Volcano is contained in two major channels and does not pose a threat to populated areas in two barangays here, an aerial survey showed.

Top officials of the provincial disaster management office and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) surveyed the extent of the advancing lava flows on board a Huey helicopter yesterday morning.

In a briefing attended by Albay Gov. Fernando Gonzales, Ed Laguerta, Phivolcs’ resident volcanologist, said the lava flows do not threaten the residential areas in Barangays Mabinit and Bonga because they are contained in the Mabinit and Bonga channels on the volcano’s western and eastern flanks.

Laguerta told The STAR that the Mabinit and Bonga channels "act as natural buffer zones for the flowing lava."

After 23 days of continuous lava flows, Mayon has already extruded an estimated 19 million to 20 million cubic meters of hot, molten rocks, or about 1.9 million cubic meters per day, Laguerta said.

Phivolcs said the lava has already spilled into the Bonga gully, east of the Mabinit channel.

Based on the aerial survey, the lava flowing to the Mabinit channel has spanned for more than 6.1 aerial kilometers from Mayon’s crater at an elevation of 269 meters.

The lava slowly descending toward the general direction of the Bonga channel, on the other hand, was estimated at about 5.1 aerial kilometers from the crater at an elevation of 320 meters.

In a bulletin, Phivolcs said some lava blocks have reached the gullies facing Miisi in Daraga and Buyoan this city.

Seismic sensors detected 371 tremor episodes caused by the lava blocks tumbling down the slopes of Mayon.

Twelve volcanic earthquakes were also detected, signifying the ascent of magma inside the volcano’s vent.

Sulfur gas emission dropped to 1,919 tons last Saturday from 2,965 tons the previous day.

Cedric Daep, head of the Albay provincial disaster management office, said their contingency plans remain in place even if the lava flows pose no immediate threat to the residential areas in Barangays Mabinit and Bonga.

[KeithD]

I love volcanoes....

[presto]

i went on a volcano trip once, stunk of rotten eggs because of all the sulphr, and i stuck my finger in one of the bubbling hot springs - which wasn't a good idea

[presto]

i would imagine sticking your finger into lava would be a worse idea.
think i just set myself up for a 'presto will stick his finger in anything joke there'.

[scotsfiancee]

Thousands flee 'imminent' Mayon volcano eruption
08/07 10:00:41 AM

LEGASPI (AFP) - Thousands of people were being moved out of their homes in the central Philippines on Monday in the face of the "imminent" eruption of the rumbling Mayon volcano, officials said.

Volcanologists previously said an explosive eruption by Mayon, one of the country's most active volcanoes, could threaten the lives of about 60,000 people.

"We have to finish this by 12:00 noon (0400 GMT) to avoid incidents. These are orders from the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Center," Legaspi city mayor Noel Rosal said as he supervised the evacuation of 10,500 residents from four villages on Mayon's lower slopes.

The region was rocked early Monday by five successive volcanic blasts within 40 minutes, followed by a fountain of lava from Mayon's crater, he said on local radio.

By mid-morning the peak was covered in a dark cloud of volcanic material rising several kilometers (miles) above the crater.

The government's seismology institute on Monday raised a five-step volcano alert over Mayon at the next-highest level of 4, meaning an eruption could occur within days.

It began abnormal activity in February, and started emitting small lava flows on July 15.

[mupsuit]

Lava flows nearing 6-km danger zone boundary

The Philippine Star - August 3, 2006

LEGAZPI CITY —

The governor has designated the Cagsawa Ruins, Our Lady of the Gate Church, elevated areas in Daraga town, the Lignon Hill, the Legazpi City airport, and the Mayon International Hotel, among others, as Mayon viewing sites.

— Celso Amo, Cet Dematera and Sheila Crisostomo

I have posted a photo of Mayon Volcano from Cagsawa in the Scenery Gallery - taken a while back but you can see what a lovely area this is

[URi]

For those who have Google Earth, here is an overlay for Mayon.

http://googleearthphilippines.pbwiki...ge_Overlay.kmz

[KeithD]

i went on a volcano trip once, stunk of rotten eggs because of all the sulphr, and i stuck my finger in one of the bubbling hot springs - which wasn't a good idea

Sometimes I wonder how these people are ever let back into the community

[scotsfiancee]

Villagers and onlookers gather very close to watch the lava flow of Mayon volcano as it creeps very close to the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone...wish i was there

[URi]

At YouTube you'll find some videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLwFNEci6ks

I hope it will not explode. It's hard enough for the people there to get deported, but if they'll loose their homes...

[scotsfiancee]

Government will supply their needs...but i really took pity to the children now cause they stop there schooling(evacuation center at schools),livelihoods,houses. ...question is until when they will be back in normal?

[KeithD]

It' not the kind of volcano to 'explode', it's lava dome collapses way before it gets near that stage. It'll keep on doing this in cycles for the next few decades at the very least, possibly centuries.

[scotsfiancee]

By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQ7.net
Last updated 05:34pm (Mla time) 08/08/2006

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants “zero-casualty” from the impending disaster when Mayon Volcano erupts, as she called on residents “not to flirt with danger.”At the same time, Arroyo assured families transported from the danger zone that the government would provide resources for their basic needs in evacuation centers.

"With the well organized and effective handling of this crisis, we are confident of achieving a zero-casualty goal in this looming natural disaster," Arroyo said.

"We call on the local residents not to flirt with danger by going back to the declared danger zones and instead heed the advice of experts and disaster officials to stay out of harm's way," she added.

"We assure those affected that we have enough resources to shoulder basic needs and services in the evacuation centers and that the people will not be kept away from their homes a minute longer than necessary," Arroyo said.

Arroyo congratulated local officials, concerned agencies, and the private sector for the orderly evacuation of communities threatened by the looming explosion.

Aside from continuous lava flow, tremors around the volcano have increased, which indicate that an eruption is “imminent,” according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

[scotsfiancee]

Tremors increase around Mayon, as gov’t rushes evacuation

A total of 344 tremors and 109 earthquakes were recorded and sulfur dioxide emission rate shot up to 12, 745 tons per day--all of which indicate an explosive eruption may occur anytime, according to the Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

The volcano has also blasted 500-meter high ash columns from its crater nine times, three times on Monday evening, said Ernesto Corpus, chief of the government's Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Unit.

[scotsfiancee]

Mayon lull could lead to explosive eruption, officials warn
By Teresa Cerojano
Associated Press
Last updated 12:25pm (Mla time) 08/09/2006

LEGAZPI -- Officials worried Wednesday that a reduction in gases coming from the restive Mayon Volcano could mean something has blocked the flow inside the crater, raising the chances of an explosive eruption.

Then again, it could mean that the volcano is just taking a brief break after a flurry of activity led scientists to raise the alert level Monday, warning that an eruption was imminent.

The number of people moved from 25 villages near Mayon, southeast of Manila in Albay province, to 20 evacuation centers rose to nearly 40,000, with more ready to go quickly in the event of a massive explosion, said Jukes Nunez of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Center.

Many residents have refused to leave farming villages close to Mayon.

**O **

[A_flyer]

Rebels hit troops aiding evacuees

The Manila Times - August 10, 2006

New People’s Army guerrillas have attacked an Army unit evacuating residents from the slopes of the Mayon Volcano, the military said Wednesday. Five members of the unit were wounded Tuesday when the NPA fired rocket-propelled grenades at their camp near Daraga close to the slopes of the rumbling mountain, it said.

“Army commanders in the area have condemned this inhumane and terroristic activity by the NPA which was conducted at a time when affected civilians need more help and support to alleviate their impoverished situation,” Maj. Ernesto Torres, the Army spokesman, said in a statement.

The 7,400-member NPA has been waging a decades-long Maoist insurgency in the area.

They observed a de facto ceasefire in the region earlier this year when the Bulusan Volcano, 75 kilometers southeast of Mayon, expelled ash
clouds that triggered a brief evacuation of nearby villages earlier this year.

No ceasefire is in place around Mayon.
--AFP

[URi]

Read in the news (German site) Mayon calmed down within the last 24 hours. There are still eruptions and earth tremors, but not that heavy as before...

[A_flyer]

Mayon evacuees swamp temporary shelters

The Manila Times - August 10, 2006

The government on Wednesday announced it had evacuated practically all the 39,000 people threatened by the imminent eruption of Mayon Volcano in Albay.

As evacuation centers around the volcano began to fill up, concerns were raised about inadequate facilities, sanitation and food supplies.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council said nearly 30,000 people living in 23 barangays within the volcano’s 8-kilometer danger zone have been moved out.

The barangays are in the cities of Legazpi, Tabaco and Ligao and the towns of Daraga, Malilipot, Camalig, Santo Domingo and Guinobatan.

Thirty-four centers have been set up to shelter the evacuees, the NDCC said.

In one center, the Bagum*bayan Elementary School in Legazpi, there are not enough toilets for the people who came from Matanag village.

Elena Ador, 48, was worried that the toilet shortage was forcing some of the evacuees to throw their waste in the garbage bin or relieve themselves behind the classrooms.

Salome Agao, 61, shares a classroom with 100 other persons. She looks after her 2-month-old granddaughter May Aperin and two other grandchildren.

“We’re congested and can’t sleep well. Children are crying because of overcrowded surroundings,” she said.

On Monday night the city government distributed four kilos of rice, two cans of sardines, corned beef, two noodle packs, 25 grams of coffee and one-fourth kilo of sugar to every family in the center.

Loreta Jordeliza, 37, who brought her five children with her, told The Times the supply was good for only three days and not enough for a big family like hers.

Thousands of villagers living near Mayon are periodically driven from their homes when the volcano acts up and taken to government schools to wait it out.

As many as 77 people farming the slopes died during a 1993 eruption and now the government evacuates people whenever a hazardous eruption seems imminent.

In the latest case, Mayon began oozing lava in mid-July and on Monday there were several powerful ash explosions—causing volcanologists to demand a mandatory evacuation.

Often, as many as 50 people are housed in one classroom, sleeping side by side on cold floors and surviving on daily rations doled out by government social service agencies.

Even as the villagers shelter in schools, administrators try to carry on with classes as normally as possible.

“Each room is really overcrowded,” said Helen Garcia, an official of Albay Central School who now doubles as assistant coordinator for disaster relief.

Teresita Aynera, principal of Gogon Elementary School, said she is sheltering 3,179 people in 25 classrooms. “They almost use all the rooms including the infirmary and the clinic,” she said.

Gogon is actually one of the better evacuation centers. In anticipation of large numbers of people, the local government installed public toilets, communal kitchens and hand pumps for water.

On the teeming school grounds, half-naked babies and women doing laundry mix with schoolchildren in white and blue uniforms.

The villagers at the evacuation center are almost exclusively women and children. Despite government orders that no one be allowed into the danger zone, the menfolk return home every morning to farm and safeguard their belongings.

Although the city has enough money for such calamities, this could be depleted if the situation lasts for weeks or months, officials warn.

It costs about P367,000 a day to feed and house the estimated 10,802 people sheltering in Legazpi’s schools.

Renato Solidum, head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, says Mayon’s eruptive phases usually last for one month. Even if the volcano calmed down now, it would take two weeks before they can decide if it is safe to send people home.

Despite the periodic upheavals, many residents would not consider moving away permanently from their communities near Mayon, which benefit from the fertile volcanic soil. Most resisted a government program to resettle them years ago.

“This is where our livelihood is, our farms, our rice and vegetables,” said Mercy Agao. “The land is very fertile. Where else can we find such a livelihood?”

On Wednesday Phivolcs noted an “anomalous” drop in Mayon’s tremors and gas emissions.

Solidum said volcanic quakes decreased from 109 to only 21 and sulfur-dioxide emission also decreased from a high of 12,745 tons a day to 7,829 tons.

He said, “The large swings in activity, along with the recent explosions, indicate the variability of the conditions of the magma system inside the volcano, and also reflect the high prevailing unrest.”

Solidum said that despite the pause in Mayon’s activity, alert level 4 remained around the volcano.

He said they were advising stragglers to clear out from the volcano’s extended danger zone.
--Rhaydz B. Barcia, Mark Ivan Roblas, Anthony Vargas and AFP

[A_flyer]

New warning over erupting Mayon volcano

The Philippines Star - August 10, 2006 1:52:09 PM (Manila time)

LEGASPI (AFP) - Philippine scientists Thursday gave renewed warnings of a major explosion at the erupting Mayon volcano, as steaming lava poured down its slopes and thousands huddled in evacuation camps.

Mayon's chief monitor Ernesto Corpuz said the volcano, which has been rumbling and oozing molten rock for about three weeks, may erupt in spectacular fashion in the coming days.

"It is at this time that the volcanic activity could be gearing up for a bigger explosion," Corpuz told AFP.

"This is going to be a critical time," he said, adding: "This kind of unusual quiet is ominous."

Official warnings about Mayon, the country's most active volcano which has claimed more than 1,000 lives over the years, have forced the evacuation of some 40,000 villagers from around the central mountain.

While obvious signs of activity have slackened in the past two days, lava continues to pour down gullies on the slopes of the picturesque, cone-shaped mountain which is a major tourist attraction.

About 40,000 people have been evacuated from villages within a six to eight kilometer (four-five mile) danger zone since Monday in case of an explosion that could cover surrounding areas with deadly volcanic ash.

The residents have been herded into makeshift evacuation centers, mainly school buildings where sometimes as many as 50 people are sleeping on cold cement classroom floors.

The evacuated villagers are living on rations of rice, instant noodles and canned sardines and meat. Local officials warn that money for their upkeep might soon run out if the crisis is prolonged.

There are also fears that the overcrowding in the evacuation centers could spawn an epidemic.

The 8,070-foot (2,460-meter) Mayon has shown increasing unrest since mid-July and on Monday, after a series of powerful explosions, government vulcanologists warned a dangerous eruption could take place within days.

The number of volcanic quakes detected in Mayon fell to only three on Wednesday from 109 on Monday and 21 on Tuesday. The amount of sulphur dioxide expelled also has been falling, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

However crimson streams of lava could still be seen trickling down Mayon's slopes at night and a huge column of steaming lava is still moving through a gulley in the Bonga district.

Soldiers have been assigned to patrol forests on the foothills to keep residents out of the danger zone. However some farmers and herdsmen still sneak into the area to check on their crops and to safeguard their homes.

The troops said they are seeing fewer farmers braving the danger zone now that the lava has moved lower.

"They are more afraid now," one soldier said.

[scotsfiancee]

avacuees.jpg life In An Evacuation Center We lost everything

[KeithD]

avacuees.jpg life In An Evacuation Center We lost everything

Well obviously you still have the Internet

[scotsfiancee]

[A_flyer]

Mayon calm prelude to the big bang?

The Manila Times - August 11, 2006

THE uneasy calm that has descended on Mayon Volcano could be the prelude to a major eruption, volcanologists warned Thursday.

“It is at this time that the volcanic activity could be gearing up for a bigger explosion,” Ernesto Corpuz, the chief monitor of the volcano for the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, said.

Corpuz predicted that Mayon, which has been rumbling and oozing molten rock for about three weeks, may erupt spectacularly in the coming days.

“This is going to be a critical time,” he said. “This kind of unusual quiet is ominous.”
Renato Solidum, Phivolcs director, said volcanic earthquakes and sulfur-dioxide emissions had subsided.

Only three quakes were recorded and sulfur-dioxide emissions were down to 6,573 tons a day from the 7,829 on Tuesday.

“This apparent lull in the activity, along with the slight change in the sulfur dioxide emission rate, is still significant and reflects the volcano’s unusual state of unrest,” Solidum said.

About 40,000 villagers living in the danger zone around the mountain were sheltering in evacuation camps in Albay.

Relief train
On Thursday a train loaded with P10-million worth of confiscated smuggled clothes and luncheon meat that will be distributed to the evacuees pulled out of the train station in Buendia, Makati City.

The “Mayon Express” was sent off by President Arroyo and was expected to reach Albay in 12 hours.

The President said the relief train could carry at least 30 tons of goods.

“This relief train of 30 tons capacity can be operated every other day as needed and then the evacuees can have free packages from Legazpi to Manila,” she said.

The train carried 40,800 tins of luncheon meat and 15,000 metric tons of used clothes seized by the Bureau of Customs.

Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said the luncheon meat could be stored for as long as three years, so they are safe to eat.

General Manager Jose Marie Sarosola of the Philippine National Railways said the trip to Bicol would cost the government only P30,000.

The train could also bring 500 passengers on the return trip to Manila.

The President also ordered the six PNR stations in Albay to be transformed into temporary evacuation centers.

Although signs of activity have slackened in the past two days, lava continues to pour down gullies on the slopes of the volcano.

Crimson streams of lava, however, could still be seen trickling down Mayon’s slopes at night, and a huge column of steaming lava is still moving through a gully in the Bonga district.

Fewer stragglers
Soldiers have been assigned to patrol forests on the foothills to keep residents out of the danger zone. Some farmers and herdsmen, however, still sneak into the area to check on their crops and to safeguard their homes.

The troops see fewer farmers braving the danger zone now that the lava has moved lower.

The villagers have been staying in makeshift evacuation centers, mainly schoolbuil*dings where sometimes as many as 50 people sleep on cold cement floors.

The evacuees are living on rations of rice, instant noodles and canned sardines and meat. Local officials warn that money for their upkeep may soon run out if the crisis continues.

They also fear that overcrowding in the evacuation centers could spawn an epidemic.

The Department of Health’s Center for Health and Development in Bicol warned that an outbreak at the centers could occur unless authorities decongest them.

Already, 88 cases of acute respiratory infection, mostly affecting children, have been reported at the centers.

“We would like to appeal to the local and city officials to add more evacuation centers to prevent an epidemic,” Nestor Santiago, DOH regional director, said.

Close to 50,000 people from the towns of Camalig, Daraga, Guinobatan, Santo Domingo and Malilipot and the cities of Legazpi, Tabaco and Ligao have moved into 20 evacuation camps.

WHO standard
Dr. Juancho Torres, coordinator of the DOH health emergency management staff, told The Times that a 56-square-meter classroom could accommodate only 16 persons, if the World Health Organization standard is followed.

There should also be one toilet for three people, he said.

Dr. Luis Mendoza, WHO chief in Albay, has recommended to the local officials to install more toilets at the evacuation camps.

The most crowded camps were in San Roque and Gogon in Legazpi.

The city’s mayor, Noel Rosal, said two more classrooms will be designated as evacuation camps to decongest San Roque and Cogon.

Rosal directed Engineer Orlando Rebato to unclog toilets and put in water supply. Evacuees from Matanag and Mabinit villages were complaining of lack of toilets and water.
--Sam Mediavilla, Mark Ivan Roblas and Rhaydz B. Barcia

[scotsfiancee]

Legazpi City turning Mayon menace into tourism windfall


By Mynardo Macaraig
Agence France-Presse
Last updated 09:46am (Mla time) 08/13/2006


LEGAZPI CITY, Albay - Ominous posters around this city show the nearby Mayon Volcano, erupting forcefully, shooting fiery sparks into the sky with blood-red lava dripping from its mouth.

But the words on the poster are cheerful rather than frightening: "Visit Legazpi: Mayon Eruption 2006."

The posters are part of an impromptu campaign to find some benefit from a looming disaster that has already forced the evacuation of nearly 40,000 people from their homes on the rumbling volcano's slopes into overcrowded evacuation centers.

While initial estimates of tourist revenues are not available, officials say the volcano, which began oozing lava on July 15 and is on high alert for a full eruption, has helped bring in more local and foreign tourists to this city of about 400,000 people on the poverty-stricken Bicol peninsula.

The posters are the brainchild of Legazpi City councilor Cerilo Chan who realized over a week ago that the tourism potential of the volcanic eruption was not being fully exploited.

He printed up the posters and had them placed in different parts of the city and also personally stuck copies at airports, hotels and at the tourism districts in Manila where potential visitors might see them.

"I just noticed many foreigners were arriving," but that there were not enough people attending to them, he said.

Since then, Chan has been getting many inquiries. He has been successful in attracting some 120 employees of the central bank to vacation here in late July where they personally got to see Mayon put on a fireworks show at night -- from a safe distance.

The 8,070-foot (2,460-meter) high volcano has long been a tourist attraction, thanks to its near-perfect cone, its symmetrical slopes and its history of being the most active volcano in the country.

But it has been overshadowed by other tourist attractions in recent years such as diving with whale sharks in the nearby coastal town of Donsol.

Many of the tourists who pass through Legazpi City just use it as a jumping off point to some place else but the eruption of the volcano has revived interest in Mayon.

While government volcanologists warn people not to enter a six to eight kilometer (four to five-mile) danger zone around the crater, Legazpi, located some 15 kilometers away, is well out of danger.

Sightseers can watch the volcanic unrest while sipping drinks in the safety of their hotel rooftops.

Bernadette Peralta, president of the Legazpi City Tourism Council, a private association, says there is some reluctance to exploit a disaster that is hurting their neighbors.

"We have to be prudent. An eruption would also mean destruction," she says, remarking that some people had criticized the effort to use the eruption to attract tourists.
Ironically, the dangerous image of a volcanic eruption has also scared some tourists away.

"There is a perception of fear from other regions," of the Philippines, says Peralta, saying there had been some hotel cancellations.

Despite this, Maria Ravanilla, local director of the national Tourism Department says there has already been a marked rise in tourist arrivals since the volcano roared into life.

A survey of the five top hotels in Legazpi found they had a 62 percent occupancy rate since mid-July, a time of the year when such hotels usually have a 20 percent occupancy rate, Ravanilla said.

The survey also found that there were 1,683 foreign tourists who checked in from July 18 to August 7, the off-peak season, compared with 2,638 foreign tourists in the entire first half of the year.

Clouds obscure the mountain top on some days, but foreign tourists are generally pleased they made the diversion here.

"At first, I was afraid to come because when you see the volcano on the TV, you get the wrong idea," says German Michael Lichtinger, sipping a beer at an open-air restaurant on a government-built viewing station.

"I like it well enough but I wish it wasn't this cloudy."

[misscarie]

Well obviously you still have the Internet

hehehe i can say that keith "the admin" is so great...the smart one

[scotsfiancee]

[A_flyer]

Pyroclastic flow cascades down volcano’s slope

The Manila Times - August 14, 2006

MAYON Volcano could soon unleash a huge cloud of deadly gases and ash, experts warned Sunday, as 40,000 people prepared for a second week in crowded evacuation centers.

Four powerful ash explosions rocked the spectacular 2,460-meter peak on Saturday, covering nearby communities to the northwest with a light layer of dust, government volcanologists said.

Mayon, where activity has picked up over the past week, is now belching a more lethal pyroclastic flow of hot volcanic gas and dust, rather than slow-moving lava, said Ed Laguerta, head of the volcano-monitoring observatory.

Unlike the trails of lava that have been slowly flowing down the volcano’s slopes for weeks, so-called pyroclastic flows can cover a wide area very swiftly, moving at speeds of about 60 kilometers (35 miles) per hour.

“We want to give the volcano a wide berth,” said Ernesto Corpuz, head of the volcano monitoring division of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
An eruption at Mayon in 1993 killed 77 people who were caught unaware by the deadly clouds of ash and gases.

The government has evacuated some 40,000 residents living in a six-to-eight-kilometer danger zone around the volcano, herding them into 24 overcrowded evacuation centers, most of them schools.

Many residents, however, still enter the danger zone to work on their farms, guard their belongings and attend to other personal matters.

The full extent of the danger posed by the volcano is not readily apparent as its crater has largely been obscured by thick clouds for days, preventing the public from seeing the ash explosions.

President Arroyo, who visited Mayon on Saturday, has promised more aid for the villagers including the delivery of prefabricated homes and tents, in a bid to ease overcrowding at the evacuation centers.

Some have been forced to sleep in rooms with as many as 50 other people, raising fears about the possibility that disease could spread.

Despite the dangers of Mayon, busloads of evacuees could been seen leaving the center in Legazpi City on Sunday to visit their homes in Bonga village, inside the danger zone, where people said they could hear a distant rumbling.

Seventy-four-year-old farmer Maximo Aydalla said he was in Bonga on Saturday when the ash explosions took place.

“I saw the smoke rise and then fall but we were still at a safe distance. If it was going our way, we would have run,” he said.

Despite the danger, he returned to Bonga again on Sunday to pick up drinking water and firewood.

“It is a bit dangerous. I am not afraid because I keep an eye out,” he said.
There have been no recorded fatalities so far from either the volcano or from diseases at the evacuation center.

Relief officials said they were checking on television reports that one person had died of a heart attack.

Mayon is the country’s most active volcano and past eruptions have led to more than 1,000 deaths.

The pyroclastic flow was observed on Mayon’s upper slopes between Basud and Buyuan barangays in Legazpi. The flow was cascading down at 60 kilometers per hour with temperatures reaching 300 degrees Celsius.

An ash column rose about 500 meters high into the sky and drifted towards to the northeast, raining light ash over the town of Santo Domingo.

Cedric Daep, chief of the Albay’s Provincial Disaster Management Office, told The Times that in case of bad weather, the present eight-kilometer danger zone around Mayon will be extended by two kilometers and 10,000 more families will be forcibly evacuated.

That means the government will be spending P2 million a day or P14 million a week or P56 million a month to feed, clothe and treat all the evacuees.

At least 10 volcanic earthquakes and 324 tremor episodes have been recorded since Saturday, indicating that magma continues to rise to the crater.

The volcano, however, spewed 8423 tons of sulfur dioxide on Saturday, a decrease of more than half from the previous day’s volume.

“The explosions and significant drop in sulfur emission rate indicate a continuing high unrest in the volcano,” Laguerta said.
--AFP and Rhaydz Barcia

[A_flyer]

Mayon’s blast still due, molten rocks threaten more

The Manila Times - August 15, 2006
By Rhaydz B. Barcia, Correspondent

Daraga, Albay: Mayon Volcano exploded for the eighth time on Monday as Mayor Gerry Jaucian fears that several villages might be buried in lava which has flowed nonstop, destroying more and more hectares of coconut plantations.

The trail of lava flow ejected by Mount Mayon since July 14 has damaged 70 hectares of coconut plantations in this town and Legazpi City.

Jaucian told The Times that the lava flow as high as three- to four-story buildings might overflow to the villages of Miisi, Banadero and Matnog this rainy season. That would endanger more people here.

“We’re facing serious threats here because most of the river channels are heavily silted. Nonstop lava flow from Mayon Volcano might blanket Barangay Miisi and adjacent areas here,” Jaucian told The Times.

He said more than 50 hectares of coconut plantations might perish under flowing molten rocks.

Raymond Patrick R. Maximo, science research specialist of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, told The Times that at least 120 hectares of coconut plantations might perish around the volcano because of continuing lava flow toward the villages of Matnog in this town and Mabinit and Bonga in Legazpi City.