December 19, 2009
By Cet Dematera
The Philippine Star
LEGAZPI CITY , Philippines – Advancing lava from Mayon Volcano has already flowed more than four kilometers from the crater, burning coconut trees and other crops planted along the volcano's slopes.
The lava front would incinerate everything in its way, particularly now that it has already moved beyond the bald four-kilometer radius zone from the crater of the volcano, according to July Sabit, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) monitoring division chief.
Photo: A mother and her two daughters share a meal at an evacuation center in Guinobatan, Albay. (Edd Gumban)
"In fact we have been observing the lava front filling up cracks and
fissures down slope. And once these gullies are filled up, the volcanic debris will start taking new paths," Sabit told The STAR.
"But this will not harm anybody for as long as volcanic materials remain confined within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone and the seven-kilometer buffer zone in the southeast portion of Mayon," he added.
Jukes Nuñez, assistant chief of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office, said an aerial survey was already scheduled yesterday or today to determine the extent of lava ejecta and assess the overall condition of the volcano after a week of intensified abnormal activities.
"We are already looking into these reports. But since almost all of the residents in the high-risk zone were already evacuated, there is nothing much to worry about," Nuñez said.
Crops and coconuts are abundant within the four-km boundary from the crater where at least 77 farmers were buried alive when Mayon spewed deadly pyroclastic flow without prior precursors on Feb. 3, 1993.
All the Signs Are There
Phivolcs monitoring until 7 a.m. yesterday showed that Mayon shook at least 197 times, 18 of which were accompanied by minor explosions that sent grayish ash columns as high as two kilometers above the crater.
Phivolcs reported that sulfur dioxide emission had also increased from 1,065 to 2,034 tons in the past 24 hours.
"Alert Level 3 remains hoisted since persistent high unrest is evident and the possibility of hazardous volcanic eruption is high," Phivolcs warned.
The agency recommended that the 6-km radius permanent danger zone around the volcano and the 7-km extended danger zone on the southeast flank should be free from human activity because of sudden explosions that may generate hazardous volcanic flows.
Renato Solidum, Phivolcs director, said that if Mayon erupts it will be stronger than the 2006 eruption.
Solidum said critical indicators are being closely monitored before alert level 4 is raised as the volcano continues its high level of unrest.
Mayon ejected some 30 million cubic meters of debris, about half of which were pyroclastic materials and another half hot molten rocks, when it erupted in 2001.
In the 2006 eruption, the volcano emitted some 52 million cubic meters of lava.
Solidum said the indicators have not yet reached the level to require raising the alert level to 4. But he added that even if the alert level is not raised to 4 the volcano's warning system has already enabled the evacuation of residents in danger areas.
"In fact, the provincial government of Albay has evacuated these danger zones at alert level 3. So essentially, at alert level 4 we are trying to lessen the time frame of the possibility of the hazardous eruption occurring," he said.
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said 8,442 families comprising 40,093 people have been evacuated since alert level 3 was raised Monday evening.
Salceda has requested from authorities a state-of-the-art helicopter with searchlights to monitor any form of human activity inside the permanent danger zone around the volcano.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), on the other hand, has continued to send relief goods and face masks to those who have been displaced.
DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral has also assured the thousands of families taking shelter in evacuation centers of continued assistance.
The agency began distributing relief goods four days ago, initially sending P440,000 worth of relief goods that consisted of food packs, water, biscuit, noodles, and face masks.
"The face masks are necessary to protect them from the ash fall which could affect their respiratory system," Cabral said.
Two days ago, three trucks arrived in Albay filled with additional relief goods such as rice, blankets, and face masks.
There are 23 evacuation centers in the province, housing some 8,000 families or 40,000 people.
Canadians, Britons Warned
Mayon's activity has moved the United Kingdom and Canada to advice their citizens traveling to Legazpi City to be aware of the signs of volcanic eruption.
In a travel advice, the British and Canadian embassies in Manila warned their nationals that a hazardous explosive eruption is possible.
The United States had earlier issued a travel advisory to its nationals in the country.
"Sudden steam and ash explosions may occur at any time. Since July 2007 both Bulusan volcano in Sorsogon province and Kanloan volcano in Negros Oriental province have shown increased volcanic activity," the advisory reads.
"Travelers should be aware there are a number of active and potentially active volcanoes in the Philippines. Canadians should pay careful attention to all warnings issued, avoid restricted areas, and follow the advice of local authorities in the event of an eruption," the advisory said.
Good Weather for Albay
Meanwhile, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) yesterday said Albay would be spared from heavy rains for the next five days that could trigger lahar or volcanic mudflows in the surrounding communities.
Pagasa weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said Albay will have good weather for the next five days since they did not monitor any storm brewing in the area, dispelling fears of heavy volcanic mudflow.
"The weather will be partly cloudy to cloudy with light rains, the wind will be moderate to strong and the nearby waters would be moderate to rough. The people in Albay will experience good weather for the next five days," Aurelio said.
Pagasa said northern Luzon will experience mostly cloudy skies with light rains while Mindanao will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms.
The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.
Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast would prevail over Luzon, the Visayas and eastern Mindanao.
Coastal waters in these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the northeast with slight to moderate seas, except during thunderstorms.
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