OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Philippines - Mt. Mayon Volcanic Eruption
25 June 2001


Situation

1.  Mt. Mayon, which lies 330 km southeast of Manila, on the Philippine
island of Luzon, erupted at 14.44 hrs (local time) on Sunday 24 June 2001,
generating pyroclastic flows and ash columns. The eruptions were
characterized by strong explosions, multiple pyroclastic flows around the
volcano and lava that flowed into gullies on the southeastern flanks of
the mountain. The main eruption cloud discharged from the crater rose to
about 10 km in altitude, dispersing moderate to heavy ash in a
north-easterly direction.

2.  The Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)
issued a maximum, Level 5 Alert which denotes a hazardous eruption in
progress. The affected areas include the previously delineated 8 km radius
permanent danger zone (PDZ) to the southeast as well as areas to the
southwest, east and farther to the northeast, all zones which are prone to
heavy ash fall due to prevailing winds.

3.  According to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), so
far, 25,576 people (4,751 families) have been evacuated to 15 evacuation
centres. There have been no reports of injuries. Flights to Legaspi City
were cancelled upon declaration of Alert Level 5.

4.  Mt. Mayon is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines. It
stands 2,462 metres high, and is of near-perfect conical shape. The
mountain last erupted on 24 February 2000, its previous eruption in 1993
continued for two months and killed more than 70 people. History records
at least 45 eruptions of Mt. Mayon, the worst of which occurring in 1814
and buried an entire town, killing about 1,200 people.


National and international response

5.  The national Secretaries of Defence, Health and Social Welfare have
visited Legaspi City along with other government officials to assess the
situation. Relief supplies have been distributed. Activities encompassing
evacuation of the affected population, information dissemination in print
and broadcast form and monitoring activities are all in progress.

6.  The following aspects of relief assistance are giving rise to concern:

    - supply of relief commodities for evacuees;
    - supply of potable water;
    - sanitation;
    - insufficient lighting facilities.


7.  No appeal for international assistance has been made to date.

8.  OCHA is in close contact with the UN Resident Coordinator in Manila,
and will revert with further information if the situation warrants it.

9.  This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int


Telephone: +41-22-91712 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers (OCHA Disaster Response Branch):
  Mr. F. Gentiloni / Mr. R. Mueller / Mr. S. Matsuka / Mr. K. Quiding 
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 3512 / 3131 / 4034 / 1769

Press contact:
  (GVA) Ms. M. Moulin-Acedo, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
  (NYC) Ms. P. Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32


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