Based on its Severe Weather Bulletin # 4 issued at 05:00 PM today (October 24, 2020), the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecasts Tropical Depression “QUINTA” will make landfall over the Bicol Region between Sunday evening and Monday morning (25-26 October) and traverse westward over Southern Luzon on Monday. As such Bicol Region is expected to experience light to moderate, with at times heavy rainfall during the period.

 

Due to this development, DOST-PHIVOLCS strongly recommends increased vigilance and readiness of communities in pre-determined zones of lahar hazards in Mayon Volcano. Prolonged and heavy rainfall may generate post-eruption lahars on major channels draining the Mayon Volcano edifice by incorporating loose material from thick pyroclastic density current (PDC) deposits and remnant ashfall from the January-March 2018 eruption. The bulk of erodible PDC deposits occupy the watershed areas of the Miisi, Mabinit, Buyuan and Basud Channels. In addition, older and erodible eruption deposits occupy the watershed areas on the eastern and western slopes of the edifice and can be remobilized as non-eruption lahars by erosion of banks and channel beds.  Mayon lahars can threaten communities along the middle and lower slopes and downstream of these channels with inundation, burial and wash away. Lahar flows were observed at Barangays Maninila and Tandarora in Guinobatan, Albay on 15 and 20 October 2020 brought about by rains from Typhoons “OFEL” and “PEPITO” respectively.

 

DOST-PHIVOLCS, therefore, warns of potential lahars and sediment-laden streamflows on all river channels draining the slopes of Mayon Volcano, particularly the Miisi, Binaan, Anoling, Quirangay, Maninila, Masarawag, Muladbucad, Nasisi, Mabinit, Matan-ag, and Basud Channels, that may be generated by heavy rainfall brought about by Tropical Depression “QUINTA”. Communities and local government units beside these drainages are advised to be additionally vigilant and to move residents to high ground should heavy rains occur.

  

DOST-PHIVOLCS