Philippines Military Mobilizing to Evacuate, as Mayon Volcano Nears Eruption
Related subjects: Asia / Pacific, Environment & Ecology, Extreme Weather Events, Global, Philippines, Security & Surveillance, The Global Intercept Comments (0)
The government of the Philippines has deployed military forces to the vicinity of the Mayon volcano, near Legazpi City, to evacuate at least 50,000 people who live in the expected path of lava flows or ash plumes that could result from an impending eruption. Mayon is the most active of the 22 active volcanoes across the Philippines archipelago. The Philippines has failed to prevent loss of life in natural disasters like urban flooding linked to poor management of drainage systems and mudslides linked to illegal mountainside logging, and is determined to do succeed in doing so in this case.
Mayon is in the province of Albay, some 200 miles southeast of Metro-Manila, in the far southeastern reaches of the Philippines “big island”, Luzon, the northernmost of the three main regions of the island chain. Authorities have issued a blanket ban on anyone remaining within a zone of up to 5 miles around the volcano, an area large enough that it is expected to give anyone beyond that zone time to react to the actual eruption, should it send lava or ash in their direction.
The process of preventative evacuation is complex and uncertain. There are risks inherent in returning residents to their homes after an eruption, as volcanic debris can create unstable new ground along the mountainside, which can be dislodged by later weather events, like heavy rains and major tropical storms. A volcanic eruption just a few years ago led to just that type of crisis, when landslides ensued, after the population had returned to their homes.
The Christian Science Monitor is reporting:
Local news media have reported that some centers lack adequate sanitation, presenting potential health risks for people living cheek-by-jowl.
Provincial Gov. Joey Salceda has said that he is prepared to ask for international aid, if necessary.If the expected eruption turns out to be a big one, about 75,000 more people will have to be moved to safety, according to the local authorities, putting even further strain on the relief effort.
There are logistical complications involved in evacuating between 50,000 and 125,000 people from the area around the volcano, not the least of which is where they can be housed and how their basic needs can be provided for. Dislocating an entire population means shutting down businesses, revenue streams and their community’s established means of distributing food and medical care. This is why refugee populations are so often susceptible to health risks associated with malnutrition and communicable disease.
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