By Ephraim Aguilar (Inquirer)
Last updated 08:45pm (Mla time) 07/19/2006
LEGAZPI CITY -- Mayon Volcano's lahar could be more dangerous than that
of Mt. Pinatubo, which swamped thousands of houses in Central Luzon in 1991, because of Mayon’s big boulders, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said here.
Senior science research specialist and resident volcanologist Eduardo Laguerta said lahar coming from Mayon will likely contain massive boulders, which can crush structures in their path.
Lahar and pyroclastic flows are the two major hazards of a Mayon eruption that Albayanos should brace for, he said.
Laguerta said pyroclastic flows from past eruptions usually affected areas within the six-to-seven-kilometer permanent danger zone only, but there have been instances when they went beyond this area.
"What we have to invest more money (for) prevention is (in) lahar since it is a long term…hazard in any volcano. In Pinatubo, for instance, it took around 10 years before it subsided," Laguerta said.
What is dangerous about lahar, he said, is that it can devastate areas up to 20 kilometers away depending on the volume of volcanic ash deposits and rainfall.
Meanwhile, Phivolcs said lava continued to flow down the Bonga Gully, traveling nearly three kilometers from Mayon’s crater.
Lava fragments detaching from the main flow reached up to a kilometer farther downslope.
Seismic activity remained at high levels and Phivolcs warned that explosions were possible and the probability of life-threatening pyroclastic flows remained high.
"As time progresses, there is lesser time we have to wait before an explosive eruption occurs," Laguerta said.
Provincial engineer Dante Baclao said that based on their assessment, there were problems in the 35 evacuation centers in eight affected municipalities like faulty roofing, problems in the water system and lack of toilets.
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