Part 4

Other Links

Part 4

March 6, 2000 (Monday)

A heavy downpour posed a threat of volcanic mudflows and could hit populated areas and a major road.
Relief goods and medicines were distributed among the evacuees. The DOH had already sought technical and material assistance from the World Health Organization.
Suspended air transportation in Bicol, deprived the region of tourism revenues from local and foreign tourists. This also prevented the immediate transport of goods to and from Bicol.

March 7, 2000 (Tuesday)

Lava deposits in the upper middle slopes collapsed at 7:46 a.m. to produce a voluminous pyroclastic flow accompanied by tremors that people mistook for another eruption.
Scientists said walls of lava deposits on Mayon's slope collapsed and rolled down the mountain, throwing up clouds of ash which swamped the villages as far as 12 kilometers from the crater.
People in the streets started running, vehicles stopped and darkness enveloped some areas for about two hours.
The estimated 50 million cubic meters (1,750 cubic feet) of volcanic materials deposited on the slopes posed an even bigger danger to the villages and towns at the foot of Mayon.
Heavy rains could loosen these deposits and turn then into violent rivers of mud and rocks that could destroy villages in their path.
Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) had distributed 70% of the Php20 million released by the then President Joseph Estrada to eight towns and Legaspi City while retaining 30% for future contingencies.

(Note: The above articles were compiled from various newspaper reports.)