Catanduanes Forum

Heavy rains threaten Albay; selective evacuations ordered

[Heavy rains threaten Albay; selective evacuations ordered] Heavy rains threaten Albay; selective evacuations ordered

Selective evacuations were implemented in Albay province after boulders and mud rolled down from Mayon Volcano due to non-stop heavy rains brought on by a low pressure area (LPA) spotted by the weather bureau PAGASA near Eastern Samar.

Provincial governor Joey Salceda has also ordered the suspension of classes in the elementary and secondary levels due to the bad weather in the province.

A radio dzMM report said heavy rains have been pouring over the province since Tuesday night.

The report said boulders and lahar from the volcano have rolled down to Paddang and Camalig towns in Legaspi City and several areas in Darraga town.

Albay and several provinces in Bicol are usually hit by typhoons. In 2006, rain-triggered mudslides swept hundreds of homes around the volcano, killing at least 300 people.

The radio report, meanwhile, said that the provincial civil defense office has dispatched 6 military trucks to Barangay Nagaso in Manito town to evacuate at least 3,500 campers. due to fears of landslides and flashfloods.

Nathaniel Cruz, weather bureau chief of PAGASA, said Bicol and provinces in Visayas will experience heavy rains for the next three days due to the LPA spotted 70 kilometers northeast of of Borongan, Eastern Samar.

While Cruz said that there was “very little chance” of the LPA to develop into a storm, it may still bring rains that may cause landslides and flashfloods. “However, we would like to caution the public especially those living on low-lying areas and mountainous areas to be prepared for possible flashfloods and landslides,” Cruz said. With a report from Rose Orbita, radio dzMM