Alert 3 on Mount Mayon

LEGAZPI CITY -- The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised Mayon Volcano’s alert status to Alert Level 3 at 10 p.m. Monday.

Phivolcs resident volcanologist Ed Laguerta said this means that magma is at the crater and that hazardous eruption is possible within weeks.

“It is recommended that the six-kilometer (km) radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) around the volcano and the seven-kilometer Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) on the southeastern flank be enforced due to the danger of rock falls, landslides and sudden explosions or dome collapse that may generate hazardous volcanic flows," he said.

Laguerta said the agency's seismic network recorded 32 volcanic earthquakes and 72 rock fall events during the past 24-hour observation period.

He added that Intensity III (bright) crater glow was visible Monday night, although rain clouds prevented visual observation of the crater during the day.

“The rolling incandescent rockfall within the uppermost reaches of the Bonga Gully last night indicates that the summit lava dome is breaching the crater in its southeastern side," the volcanologist said, saying that sulfur dioxide (SO2) flux was measured at an average of 611 tons/day on September 2.

Ground deformation data showed inflationary changes in the edifice from February based on precise leveling surveys on the third week of August, and edifice inflation from January 2012 baselines based on continuous tilt measurement.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda has ordered the forced evacuation of at least 10,000 affected residents and the no-human activity order withing the six-kilometer PDZ.

Based on the latest aerial survey and after the raising of Alert 2, authorities noted the entry of about 300 residents within the area although they had been evacuated already.

“There are residents who took advantage of the temporary lull in the volcano’s activity since its eruption in 2009,” Salceda noted.

Since Alert 2 was raised on August 15, the province has been training officials in affected municipalities and barangays.

These local government units (LGUs) are the cities of Legazpi, Tabaco and Ligao, and the towns of Guniobatan, Camalig, Daraga, Sto. Domingo and Malilipot.

Salceda also ordered these LGUs to conduct emergency meetings for the evacuation of the villagers within the six-km PDZ to eight-km EDZ.

“We will enforce the cluster approach in the management of the evacuation camps, like what we organized and trained for such event in 2009,” he did.

The Albay governor said he recommended to the Department of Education (DepEd) to come up already with emergency plans for the affected schools and students.

Salceda said that during disasters, the rights of the evacuees are superior to the rights of schoolchildren as guidance.

“The province-owned permanent evacuation centers in Gogon, Daraga nd Guinobatan can no longer be used as classrooms starting today,” he said. “Moreover, there may be a need to use more schools to accommodate the evacuees from the 6km-8km EDZ.”

He instructed the DepEd to institute measures to minimize disruption of learning, instruction and schooling for those affected barangays and host schools.

“Those living in the area southeast of Mayon are advised to prepare moist cloths to cover their faces and noses in preparation for the ash falls,” Salceda said.

He ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Provincial Engineering Office and other members of the emergency team to ensure the availability of vehicles for evacuation and other activities needing transport and dispatch these to the Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) Operation Center for immediate dispatch in case of need.

The PDRRMC, Albay Provincial Safety and Emergency Management Office, and the mayors of the affected cities and municipalities will have an emergency meeting at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday.

In response to the Mayon Level 3 alert, the Guinobatan DRRMC has evacuted 28 families (120 persons) living within the six-kilometer PDZ in Barangay Muladbucad Grande Monday night, according to Mayor Gemma Ongjoco. (PNA)

Tour Guides Recount Escape from Volcano

• smaller
• Larger

By CRIS LARANO and JOSEPHINE CUNETA

Rescuers on Thursday carry down the remains of one of the climbers.

Five European tourists and their three Filipino guides were a few hundred yards from the crater of Mount Mayon in the Philippines when they decided to turn back because thick fog had made it difficult to keep climbing. But their decision didn't come soon enough.

Mount Mayon, one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines, spewed hot ash and rocks on Tuesday, killing four climbers—three Germans and one Spaniard—and one of the tour guides.

Eighteen-year-old Nicanor Mabao was one of the three who survived what scientists call a phreatic, or steam-driven, explosion. He told The Wall Street Journal that the blast happened quickly and without warning.

Mayon volcano, one of the Philippines' most active volcanoes, spewed huge rocks and ash after daybreak Tuesday.

"I heard a loud explosion, louder than thunder," said Mr. Mabao as he prepared to leave the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital, where he and fellow guide Kenneth Jesalva were treated for burns and other injuries.

Mr. Mabao was 16 when he started guiding tourists up Mount Mayon and is a member of the Panaway Mountaineer Group, which usually climbs the 2,440-metervolcano three to four times a week.

Mr. Jesalva, 21 years old, who sustained a broken shoulder due to falling rocks, also recalled a loud explosion.

"It sounded like thunder. It was very loud. Then, I heard the noise of cascading rocks. But we couldn't see the rocks, the thick fog blinded us from seeing the falling debris," Mr. Jesalva said.

Then the rocks started landing on them.

"We were moving very slowly due to the thick fog. Burning rocks as big as our backpacks hit us. Because of my small frame, I was able to hide from the rocks but was still hit on my back and left foot," he said.

Despite being pelted by hot rocks, Mr. Mabao said he remembers looking after Sabine Strohberger, who nearly fell after stepping on a loose rock. He grabbed her backpack and lifted her to safety. Ms. Strohberger, an Austrian, was the only climber in the group to survive.

The shock of the deadly episode will change their lives forever, the guides said.

"I curse Mayon. I won't set foot on it again," said Mr. Jesalva, who is working part-time as a tour guide to support his studies. He is in the third year of a criminology course and wants to become a law-enforcement officer. He said he would still climb mountains, but not Mount Mayon.

Mr. Mabao vowed not to climb again.

Meanwhile, Philippine Army Lt. Col. Raul Farnacio said the bodies of the five who died have been retrieved and are awaiting autopsy.

Another Thai survivor stuck on the "critical side" of the volcano awaits rescue, he said, because the steep slope and high elevation prevents a helicopter landing.

Twenty-seven people, including tour guides, were hiking up to the summit when the explosion occurred, according to Gov. Joey Salceda of the Philippine province of Albay.

Write to Cris Larano at cris.larano@dowjones.com and Josephine Cuneta at josephine cuneta@wsj.com