Phivolcs warns of lahar flows near Mayon Volcano during Typhoon Rolly

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) in Bicol warned of lahar and sediment-laden flows near Mayon Volcano due to the heavy rain expected from Typhoon Rolly.

Paul Alanis, Phivolcs resident chief in Legazpi City in Albay, said that the following channels may be affected:

• Miisi
• Binaan
• Anoling
• Quirangay
• Maninila
• Masarawar
• Muladbucad
• Nasisi
• Mabinit
• Matanag
• Basud

As of Phivolcs’ 8 am bulletin on Saturday, October 31, Mayon Volcano was still at Alert Level 1.

“Active stream/river channels and those identified as perennially lahar-prone areas on all sectors of the volcano should also be avoided especially during extreme weather conditions when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall,” said Phivolcs.

Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara on Friday, October 30, raised the red alert in the province and ordered the no-sailing policy as Rolly continued to gain strength.

In the province, at least 200,000 residents – threatened by lahar flow, landslides, flooding, and storm surge – were being evacuated since Saturday, October 31.

The Philippine National Police in Bicol activated its Regional Standby Support Force for possible search and rescue operation.

Rolly is packing maximum sustained winds of 215 km/h and gustiness of up to 265 km/h. Though not a super typhoon under PAGASA’s classification system – a super typhoon has winds exceeding 220 km/h – Rolly is the world’s strongest tropical cyclone for 2020 so far. – Rappler.com