RSOE EDIS - Situation Update No. 35 : Philippines - Volcano Eruption

RSOE Emergency and Disaster Information Service Budapest, Hungary RSOE EDIS ALERTMAIL

Situation Update No. 35 Posted:2009-11-11, 04:27:35 [UTC] Ref.no.: VE-20091111-23786-PHL Situation Update No. 35 On 2010-01-02 at 05:19:55 [UTC] Event: Volcano Eruption Location: Philippines Province of Albay, Bicol Region Mayon Volcano Number of Deads: 4 person(s) Number of Evacuated: 44394 person(s) Situation: After involuntarily spending the holidays away from home, residents are being permitted by the provincial government to start going home to the foothills of Mount Mayon after state volcanologists declared that an eruption is no longer imminent. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has lowered the alert level around Mayon Volcano from “4" to “3" early Saturday morning, noting the decreased volcanic activity recorded from Mayon Volcano. But Alert Level 3 still means Mayon is in a state of "relatively high unrest" and if it continues, an eruption is still "possible within weeks." After the change in status, Albay Governor Joey Salceda ordered the partial decampment of evacuation centers, which are located mostly in public schools set to resume classes after the holidays. In an earlier interview, Salceda said that he will allow 7,218 families or 34,482 people to return to their homes within six to eight kilometers from the volcano once the alert level is lowered to 3. “Kung sakaling ibaba nga nila pauuwiin namin ang 6 to 8 (If the alert level is lowered, we will allow those living within the 6-8 km area to go home)," he added. In its January 2 (8 am) bulletin, the Philvolcs noted "a declining trend in Mayon volcano’s activity," including no more "ash ejections" from the crater. According to the Philvolcs web site, "Alert Level 3 means that there is less probability of a hazardous explosive eruption. However, the lowering of the alert level from 4 to 3 should not be interpreted that the unrest of the volcano has ceased." Phivolcs had raised the alert level at Mayon to “3" last December 14 and to “4" last December 20, prompting the evacuation of around 47,000 residents in the danger zone to some 29 evacuation centers a safe distance away from Mayon. Please DO NOT reply to this message: replies may be treated as errors and result in your subscription being deleted. If you have trouble or other queries, send email to havaria@rsoe.hu RSOE EDIS is operated by the National Association of Radio-Distress Signalling and Infocommunications (RSOE), Budapest, Hungary. Because of the complexity of this system and its dependence on other systems, we cannot be responsible for delays or failures in forwarding or transmission. You're receiving this AlertMail because you subscribed for the service. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. Contact: havaria@rsoe.hu