Albay prov’l health office declares ‘code blue’

This handout photo made available by Kristin Moral shows the Mount Mayon spewing white smoke as seen from Camalig on June 8, 2023 Hundreds of families living around Mount Mayon in central Albay province are expected to be moved to safer areas after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised a “hazardous eruption” alarm. (Photo by Handout / Kristin Moral / AFP)

By Alec Go

The Provincial Health Office of Albay declared a “Code Blue Alert” to mobilize more personnel and teams in the province to augment its current resources in response to the activities of the Mayon Volcano.

The declaration through Memorandum No. 11 was released on Thursday, June 8, after Alert Level 3 (increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption) was raised over the volcano.

“Code Blue: This is a response level alert for 50% agency resource mobilization,” portion of the memo read. “This means that teams have been mobilized to augment existing regular day-to-day resources. Likewise, logistics are mobilized to affected areas or to treat patients.”

The declaration directs all local and provincial health facilities and emergency teams in the province to be vigilant and give flash reports.

Meanwhile, the province has already implemented preemptive and mandatory evacuation on around 2,640 families or more than 10,000 individuals within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone.

The provincial government said an additional 4,415 families will be evacuated once the status is raised to Alert Level 4.

The Department of Health in Bicol assured that it is ready to provide evacuation essentials, such as hygiene kits, jails, jerry cans, and cot beds.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said 199 rockfall events and six pyroclastic density currents have been observed from 5:00 a.m. of June 8 to 5:00 a.m. to June 9.

A crater glow is also seen and the volcano’s edifice is inflated.

A total of 332 tonnes a day of sulfur dioxide was also released on June 7, while an 800-meter high plume emission was recorded. – cf

Popular

LTO integrates online driver’s license renewal system in eGovPH app

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has integrated the online driver’s license renewal in the eGovPH app, which ensures a fast and...

5 of 21 Filipinos in Houthi-hit ship in Red Sea rescued — DFA

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora and Marita Moaje | Philippine News Agency Five of the 21 Filipino seafarers manning the cargo vessel Eternity C, which...

PBBM directs gov’t officials: Focus on work, avoid politicking

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet At the Malacañang press briefing this Wednesday, July 9, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press officer Claire Castro reiterated...

Nearly 12K cops to secure SONA — PNP

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said almost 12,000 police officers will be deployed to provide...