Over 14,000 Albay villagers were forced to abandon their homes as a result of lava outbursts from the Mayon volcano, which began spewing lava from its crater Sunday night.
According to the most recent data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), more than 13,700 Bicol residents are taking refuge in 22 evacuation centers, with almost 600 people staying with friends or family.
Heightened disturbances in Mayon have affected around 14,300 inhabitants or nearly 4,000 families, it added.
On June 8, state volcanologists elevated Mayon's Alert Level to 3, indicating a "relatively high level of unrest as magma is at the crater" and a warning of an increased risk of a disastrous eruption within weeks or perhaps days.
Mayon had an "effusive eruption" Sunday night, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), which entails the comparatively sluggish outpouring of magma onto the volcano's edifice.
This is less violent than explosive eruptions that propel ash, gas, and lava high into the atmosphere.
According to the Albay Provincial Information Office's Facebook page, city mayors in the province have urged the national government to establish permanent housing sites for Mayon evacuees and those living in danger zones, saying it is time to reconsider the practice of using schools as evacuation centers.
During a meeting with Social Welfare and Development Office (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, the mayors of Ligao and Tabaco City stated that schools are often not provided with the resources required to accommodate all evacuees during calamities or disasters.
