Albay has now been placed under a state of calamity due to the threat of Mayon Volcano’s eruption.
Gov. Al Francis Bichara said the declaration was necessary so that the province’s calamity funds could be used to support operations at evacuation centers.
The governor appealed to Malacanang for aid. He said, “We cannot sustain it for so long because our resources are limited… We appeal to the President to support us and, if there is some, assistance from the private sector, we would gladly appreciate it.”
As of this posting, the provincial government of Albay reported around 25,000 residents have been evacuated after glowing red lava was seen rolling down its slopes, Monday night, January 15.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology upgraded the alert level at the area to “level 3” after observing steam eruptions.
PHILVOCS said lava had advanced up to 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) from the crater, and ash was falling nearby.
A state of calamity would allow the government to fully mobilize all agencies and resources to respond to emergencies.
Mayon most destructive eruption was in February 1841, when lava flows buried a town and killed 1,200 people.
