The Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (Apsemo) is preparing for the possible evacuation of nearly 80,000 residents, or about 19,758 families, should Mayon Volcano’s alert level be raised to Alert Level 4.

In a phone interview, Apsemo chief Roderick Mendoza said the families come from 59 barangays in nine local government units located within the extended seven- to eight-kilometer danger zone.

Mendoza said the provincial government is closely coordinating with the Department of Education (DepEd) to ready schools that may be used as evacuation centers, including preparations for logistics and essential supplies.

“We are coordinating with the Department of Education (DepEd) for preparations for evacuation centers, logistics, and supply preparations. Our Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) will conduct siphoning of all toilets in schools to be used in case,” he said.

Mendoza said PEO will also repair damaged classrooms to ensure that facilities are fit for evacuees.

The Albay Provincial Health Office said it has already prepositioned medicines and medical supplies in anticipation of possible health concerns during mass evacuations.

The Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center (BRHMC) is also set to augment the operations of the Josefina Belmonte Duran Albay Provincial Hospital for Mayon-related emergencies.

“We have established a Joint Operations Center with representatives from all frontline agencies involved in the Mayon response, with a feedback mechanism to monitor the situation and guide immediate actions,” Mendoza said.

Apsemo reported that 1,133 families, or 4,039 individuals, from the six-kilometer permanent danger zone are currently staying in evacuation centers.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded on Monday 133 rockfall events and 37 pyroclastic density currents, locally known as “uson,” along with continuous weak volcanic tremor.

Mayon also emitted grayish plumes reaching up to 800 meters above the crater, drifting east-southeast and northeast.

4K persons affected

Meanwhile, based on the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) tally Monday, a total of 1,131 families or 4, 141 persons from 13 villages in Albay were affected by Mayon’s ongoing restiveness.

As of this posting, there were still 1,116 families or 4,092 persons in 14 evacuation centers, while 15 families or 48 individuals are being assisted outside. (PNA)