GUINOBATAN, Philippines: Nearly 2,000 residents were evacuated since Thursday (Aug 21) from villages near the slopes of Mayon Volcano as heavy rains from the south-west monsoon, enhanced by Tropical Depression “Isang” were expected to trigger lahar flows and flash floods.
Joy Maravillas, chief of the Guinobatan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said 643 families—or 1,931 individuals—from Barangay Masarawag were relocated to Guinobatan Community College and a high school in Mauraro, both designated as evacuation centres.
