From WEEKLY NEWS 09/00
More than 50,000 people were forced
to evacuate their homes in Albay Province in the Philippines after Mount
Mayon began erupting on 24 February. The volcano has erupted more than
20 times since and the authorities expect it to continue spewing ash and
lava for several weeks. The evacuees were taken to schools and government
buildings outside the eight-kilometre danger zone. The local branch of
the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) which helped in their evacuation,
is providing food for nearly 17,000 homeless people and providing
them with free telephone services so they can contact their families. But
resources are being stretched as people outside the danger zone have also
fled to the shelters, in fear for their lives. The PNRC has moved volunteers
as well as food, bottled water, dust masks and other supplies into Albay
in readiness for a major eruption.
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Tel: (41 22) 730 4222
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