DARAGA, Albay—Heavy ashfall rained over Daraga and other neighboring towns surrounding Mayon Volcano late afternoon on Saturday, May 2, prompting authorities to issue warnings to residents of a possible pyroclastic flow.
Lava continued to spill from the restive volcano, which spewed ash plumes around 5 p.m. that covered the sky with thick, dark ash particles, authorities reported.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported a pyroclastic density current (PDC) along the Mi-isi Gully on the south-southwestern slopes of Mayon and was headed toward Albay’s third district, an area known for tourism and its Mayon viewing decks.
Residents in the first and third districts were advised to remain cautious amid the episodic volcanic activity by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
Adam Anonuevo and his relatives in Barangay Salvacion said they felt the ground shaking before the sudden volcanic activity.
“We felt a slight thump on the ground before it happened. We didn’t panic, but we are anticipating another volcanic activity,” he said.
Anonuevo noted that Mayon’s activity has not shown repetitive patterns unlike the 2018 eruption when minor tremors and ashfall occurred every four hours.
Ma. Desiree Nate, a resident of Camalig town currently taking temporary shelter at a local eatery, said portions of the Camalig-Guinobatan Road have become nearly impassable due to zero visibility.
“We were headed home on our motorcycle and the view got really blurry when we entered the vicinity of Guinobatan. We didn’t know that there would be an ashfall this intense,” Nate said.
Local governments hoisted Alert Level 3 and reported near-zero visibility in some towns. Travelers were advised to avoid routes blanked by thick volcanic ash, particularly within the six-kilometer “permanent danger zone” around Mayon. CS
