Super Typhoon Rolly triggered lahar mudflows on Sunday, burying over 300 houses in Barangay San Francisco, Guinobatan, Albay.
In a Facebook post, Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co shared photos of houses, some two-thirds buried in lahar from Mayon Volcano.
Co said more than 300 homes were buried. He added two people died while two were still missing.
“Isa sa labis na nasalanta ng bagyong Rolly ang Barangay San Francisco sa Guinobatan, Albay. Natabunan ng lahar mula sa Bulkan Mayon ang mahigit tatlong daang bahay. Dalawa ang namatay habang may dalawa pang nawawala,” he said.
A lahar is a violent type of mudflow or debris flow composed of a slurry of pyroclastic material, rocky debris, and water.
“Nakikidalamhati tayo sa pamilya na nasalanta ng bagyo.” he added.
The most recent eruptive episode of Mayon Volcano began in early January 2018 that consisted of phreatic explosions, steam-and-ash plumes, lava fountaining, and pyroclastic flows.
Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense Region V on Sunday night reported that 10 people died in the Bicol Region. Of this number, nine of the casualties were from Albay and one from Catanduanes.
Lahar buries over 300 houses in Guinobatan, Albay
Of the nine fatalities in Albay, three are from Guinobatan, including a 5-year-old child.
The OCD V said three people were reported missing in Guinobatan.
According to Pagasa’s severe weather bulletin issued 11 am today, Tropical Storm Rolly maintains strength while moving Westward over the West Philippine Sea.
On the forecast track, “ROLLY” is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) tomorrow morning. It is forecast to remain as a tropical storm throughout the forecast period. However, there is an increasing likelihood that “ROLLY” will weaken into a tropical depression due to increasingly unfavorable conditions.
Areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) #1 are now lifted. However, occasional gusts will be experienced over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and the northern portions of mainland Cagayan and Zambales.
Meanwhile, the center of Tropical Storm “SIONY” is forecast to continue moving west-northwestward or northwestward today through tonight before it slows down significantly and becomes almost stationary tomorrow morning through Wednesday morning.