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Philippines

Philippines Volcanic Eruption Feb 1993 UN DHA Information Reports 1-4


DHA-GENEVA 93/0044

PHILIPPINES - VOLCANIC ERUPTION
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO. 1
3 FEBRUARY 1993

SITUATION

1. MAYON VOLCANO, LOCATED 330 KM SOUTHEAST OF MANILA IN ALBAY PROVINCE, ERUPTED TWICE ON 2 FEBRUARY 1993 (AT 11.00 HRS AND 13.11 HRS). IT BLASTED OUT CLOUDS OF HOT ASH THAT MIXED WITH RAIN TO FORM RIVERS OF SCORCHING MUD. THE PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF VOLCANOLOGY AND SEISMOLOGY (PHIVOLCS) INDICATED THAT ONE OF THESE ERUPTIONS LASTED 30 MINUTES AND THAT RENEWED AND MORE VIOLENT ACTIVITY COULD BE EXPECTED. PHIVOLCS HAS SET THE DANGER ZONE AT SIX KILOMETRES FROM THE FOOT OF THE VOLCANO.

2. MAYON VOLCANO IS ONE OF THE 21 MOST ACTIVE VOLCANOES IN THE COUNTRY AND HAS A HISTORY OF ERUPTIONS EVERY 8-10 YEARS. IT LAST ERUPTED IN 1984, CAUSING NO CASUALTIES. IT KILLED MORE THAT 1,200 PEOPLE IN AN ERUPTION IN 1814 WHICH BURIED A WHOLE VILLAGE UNDER ASH.

IMPACT

3. AFFECTED AREAS ARE THE ALBAY TOWNS OF LIGAO, CAMALIG, GUINOBATAN AND DARAGA, LEGASPI CITY AS WELL AS BARANGAYS AT THE FOOT OF THE VOLCANO. ELECTRICITY WAS KNOCKED OUT IN MAJOR PARTS OF ALBAY PROVINCE.

4. ACCORDING TO UNCONFIRMED REPORTS, 34 PERSONS WERE KILLED AND 25 INJURED. 16,000 FLED THEIR HOMES TO SEEK REFUGE IN CHURCHES AND SCHOOLHOUSES IN NEARBY TOWNS.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

5. SEVENTEEN EVACUATION CENTRES HAVE BEEN SET-UP TO HELP EVACUEES IN LEGASPI CITY AND IN ALBAY PROVINCE. RESCUE OPERATIONS ARE BEING CONDUCTED BY THE PROVINCIAL DISASTER COORDINATING COUNCIL (PDCC) IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD), PHILIPPINE ARMY AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OF THE AFFECTED AREAS. IMMEDIATE FOOD ASSISTANCE IS BEING PROVIDED BY DSWD.

COUNTRY-LEVEL INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

6. UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR IS IN CONTACT WITH GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES AND CLOSELY MONITORING SITUATION. UN DISASTER MANAGEMENT TEAM ( UN-DMT) ALERTED FOR POSSIBLE RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO THE DISASTER VICTIMS.

= DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA +

TELEPHONE NO:+41-22-917.12.34
EMERGENCY TEL. NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-917.20.10
DUTY OFFICER: H. ZIMMERMANN
DESK OFFICER: S. METZNER-STRACK, DIRECT TEL. +41-22-917.21.44
PRESS TO CONTACT DHA-GENEVA SPOKESPERSON: M. KHATIB, EXT. 72856

TELEX:414242 DHA
FAX: +41-22-917.00.23
ELECTRONIC MAIL: UNIENET DIALCOM 141:DHAGVA
INTERNET DHAGVA AT CGNET.COM


DHA-GENEVA 93/0047

PHILIPPINES - VOLCANIC ERUPTION
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO. 2
4 FEBRUARY 1993

SITUATION

1.THE PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF VOLCANOLOGY AND SEISMOLOGY (PHIVOLCS) INDICATED THAT AN ERUPTION OF MT. MAYON OF MAJOR INTENSITY MAY OCCUR WITHIN THE NEXT THREE TO FOUR DAYS AND RAISED THE ALERT LEVEL ACCORDINLGY. 37 BARANGAYS (VILLAGES) IN ALBAY PROVINCE AND LEGASPI CITY HAVE BEEN DECLARED WITHIN THE SIX TO EIGHT KILOMETRE DANGER ZONE.

IMPACT

2. AS AT 3 FEBRUARY 15.00 HRS LOCAL TIME, THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS (PNRC) CONFIRMED 30 DEAD, 32 INJURED AND 25 MISSING. 3,244 FAMILIES (ABOUT 17,687 PERSONS) ARE HOUSED AT 20 EVACUATION CENTRES.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

3. PRESIDENT RAMOS HAS DECLARED THE WHOLE PROVINCE OF ALBAY AND LEGASPI CITY AS CALAMITY AREAS AND ORDERED THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF 4 MILLION PESOS (APPROX. US DLRS 160,000) IN CALAMITY FUNDS FOR RELIEF AND RESCUE OPERATIONS. THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD) HAS MADE AVAILABLE CASH AID TO THE FAMILIES OF DECEASED VICTIMS.

4. THE RELIEF AND RESCUE TEAMS OF THE LOCAL DISASTER COORDINATING COUNCILS (DCCS) AND AVAILABLE GOVERNMENT RESOURCES HAVE BEEN MOBILIZED. MEDICAL TEAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ARE PROVIDING HEALTH SERVICES IN THE EVACUATION CENTRES. DSWD AND PNRC ARE DISTRIBUTING RELIEF ITEMS INCLUDING BLANKETS, FOOD AND CLOTHING.

5. MAJOR ROADS TO ALBAY PROVINCE ARE PASSABLE TO ALL TYPES OF VEHICLES. THE NATIONAL POWER CORPORATION AND ALBAY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ARE UNDERTAKING REPAIRS TO DAMAGED POWER LINES.

= DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA +

TELEPHONE NO:+41-22-917.12.34
EMERGENCY TEL. NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-917.20.10
DUTY OFFICER: H. ZIMMERMANN
DESK OFFICERS: S. METZNER-STRACK, DIRECT TEL. +41-22-917.21.44,/
S. NISHIKAWA, DIRECT TEL. +41-22-917.31.31
PRESS TO CONTACT DHA-GENEVA SPOKESPERSON: M. KHATIB, EXT. 72856

TELEX:414242 DHA
FAX: +41-22-917.00.23
ELECTRONIC MAIL: UNIENET ID UNX 008


DHA-GENEVA 93/0052

PHILIPPINES - VOLCANIC ERUPTION
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO. 3
8 FEBRUARY 1993

SITUATION

1. MOUNT MAYON CONTINUES ITS SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITY. PYROCLASTIC FLOWS (GLOWING AVALANCHES) HAVE BEEN OBSERVED ON 5 - 6 FEBRUARY 1993, C ASCADING DOWN THE SOUTHEASTERN SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN AND REACHING AN APPROXIMATE DISTANCE OF 5 KM FROM THE SUMMIT. THE PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF VOLCANOLOGY AND SEISMOLOGY (PHIVOLCS) ADVISES THAT LARGER EXPLOSIVE ERUPTIONS MAY OCCUR AT SHORT NOTICE WITHIN THE COMING WEEKS.

2. THE HIGH DANGER ZONE HAS BEEN INCREASED TO 10 KM RADIUS FROM THE SUMMIT. THE PUBLIC IS ALSO REMINDED OF THE POTENTIAL FOR LAHAR OCC URRENCES (MUDFLOWS) WHICH MIGHT BE TRIGGERED BY MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINS, IN PARTICULAR ON NEW DEPOSITS ON THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEASTERN SIDE OF THE VOLCANO.

IMPACT

3. THE NUMBER OF CASUALTIES REPORTED SINCE 2 FEBRUARY HAS INCREASED AS FOLLOWS: 62 DEAD, 10 INJURED, 20 MISSING. 8,276 FAMILIES (31,640 PERSONS) HAVE BEEN EVACUATED AND ARE ACCOMMODATED IN 38 EVACUATION CENTRES. THE DAMAGE TO AGRICULTURAL CROPS, LIVESTOCK, AND REFORE STATION PROJECTS IS ESTIMATED AT 12 MILLION PESOS (APPROXIMATELY US DLRS 488,000).

NATIONAL RESPONSE

4.THE NATIONAL AUTHORITIES CONTINUE CLOSE MONITORING OF THE VOLCANO, TAKING PRECAUTIONARY ACTION AS WARRANTED. RELIEF ASSISTANCE IS BEING EXTENDED TO THE EVACUATED POPULATION.



5. CONTRIBUTION
US DLRS
JAPAN
- CASH GRANT
- RELIEF GOODS, INCLUDING TRANSPORT
100,000
87,000

= DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA +

TELEPHONE NO:+41-22-917.12.34
EMERGENCY TEL. NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-917.20.10
DUTY OFFICER: H. ZIMMERMANN
DESK OFFICERS: S. METZNER-STRACK, DIRECT TEL. +41-22-917.21.44,/
S. NISHIKAWA, DIRECT TEL. +41-22-917.31.31
PRESS TO CONTACT DHA-GENEVA SPOKESPERSON: M. KHATIB, EXT. 72856

TELEX:414242 DHA
FAX: +41-22-917.00.23
ELECTRONIC MAIL: UNIENET ID UNX 008


DHA-GENEVA 93/0101

PHILIPPINES - MT. MAYON VOLCANIC ERUPTION
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO. 4
30 MARCH 1993

SITUATION

1. MT. MAYON CONTINUES ITS VOLCANIC ACTIVITY. SINCE 19 MARCH 1993, FREQUENT ERUPTIONS WITH SEVERAL KM HIGH ASH LADEN STEAM COLUMNS AND VIGOROUS LAVA FOUNTAINING OCCURRED. MULTITUDE OF EXPLOSION TYPE EARTHQUAKES RECORDED BY LOCAL SEISMOGRAPHS. NEW INCANDESCENT LAVA MATERIALS ACCUMULATE AT SOUTHEASTERN SLOPE TO A DISTANCE OF 4.5 KM FROM THE CRATER.

2. ALERT LEVEL 5 IN EFFECT MEANING HAZARDOUS EXPLOSIVE ERUPTION IN PROGRESS. PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF VOLCANOLOGY AND SEISMOLOGY (PHIVOLCS) MAINTAINS INTENSE MONITORING OF VOLCANO AROUND THE CLOCK AND RECOMMENDS STRICT OBSERVANCE OF THE PREVIOUSLY DEFINED DANGER AREAS (6 KM RADIUS PERMANENT DANGER ZONE AND 10 KM RADIUS AT SOUTHEASTERN SECTOR OF VOLCANO).

IMPACT

3. NATIONAL DISASTER COORDINATING COUNCIL (NDCC) PROVIDED FOLLOWING UPDATE: CASUALTIES (CAUSED BY ORIGINAL ERUPTION ON 2 FEBRUARY 1993): 77 DEAD, 9 INJURED AND 2 MISSING. 108,000 PERSONS DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY ASH AND LAVA FLOW, WITH 11,189 FAMILIES (57,000 PERSONS) EVACUATED.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

4. ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES TASK FORCE MAYON (AFP-TF) SUPPORTING PHIVOLCS PERSONNEL IN ITS AERIAL COVERAGE OVER MAYON VOLCANO. AFP-TF ALSO SUPPORTING REGIONAL AND PROVINCIAL DISASTER COORDINATING COUNCILS, PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS (PNRC), DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD) AND NGOS IN EVACUATION AND RELIEF OPERATIONS. EQUIPMENT AND CREWS OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS A ND HIGHWAYS (DPWH) DEPLOYED AT CRITICAL LOCATIONS TO UNDERTAKE EMERGENCY CLEARING OPERATIONS OF ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.

5. DSWD IS PROVIDING RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO 50,260 PERSONS INSIDE EVACUATION CENTRES AND 6,611 PERSONS OUTSIDE. 12.4 MILLION PESOS (APPROX. USD 500,000) WORTH OF RELIEF ASSISTANCE GRANTED FROM/THROUGH DIFFERENT NATIONAL SOURCES, INCLUDING DSWD AND PNRC. IN ADDITION, 11.4 MILLION PESOS WERE APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT FOR VARIOUS LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS TO SUSTAIN ONGOING RELIEF OPERATIONS.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

6. ALTHOUGH NO REQUEST FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN MADE TO DATE, SPONTANEOUS ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND REPORTED TO DHA IS LISTED BELOW. THE UN/DHA RESIDENT COORDINATOR REMAINS IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH NDCC TO MONITOR DEVELOPMENTS.


7. CONTRIBUTIONS
UN SYSTEM
USD
UNICEF
30 BASIC HEALTH KITS, SHOVELS, SOAP
++
GOVERNMENTS
JAPAN
CASH GRANT
100,000
RELIEF GOODS, INCLUDING TRANSPORT
87,000
UK
FOOD AND HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES THROUGH WORLD VISION
65,169
USA
CASH
25,000
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, RELIEF SUPPLIES (DIVERTED FROM MT. PINATUBO STOCKS)
137,000
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
CHURCH WORLD SERVICE
CASH
10,000
++ = VALUE NOT REPORTED TO DHA
  1. FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES, PLEASE INFORM DHA-GENEVA AS INDICATED BELOW OF PLEDGES/CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING VALUE.


    = DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA +

    TELEPHONE NO:+41-22-917.12.34
    EMERGENCY TEL. NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-917.20.10
    DESK OFFICER: S. METZNER-STRACK, DIRECT TEL. +41-22-917.21.44
    PRESS TO CONTACT:
    DHA-GENEVA SPOKESPERSON: M. KHATIB,DIRECT TEL. +41-22-917.28.56

    TELEX:414242 DHA CH
    FAX: +41-22-917.00.23
    ELECTRONIC MAIL: UNIENET DIALCOM 141:DHAGVA