NEWSFLASH

MAYON: P106-M CROPS DESTROYED, RAINS BRING MUDFLOW

Legazpi City, March 3, 2000 Continuing rains over Mayon volcano are turning millions of cubic meters of volcanic ash from one week of eruptions into dangerous mudflow threatening to engulf and destroy everything in its path.

The Department of Agriculture in Albay provinces reported that volcanic rocks and ash ejected by Mayon volcano over the past week have destroyed at least 106.7 million pesos worth of unmilled rice, fruit trees, vegetables,bananas and hemp.

``This will affect the farmers and the economy of the provinceconsidering that most of the affected (crops) are rice, corn,vegetables and particularly coconut.'' Angel Nieva, provincialagriculture officer told reporters.

Nieva said the initial estimate did not include damage to coconut plantations, which he said was still being assessed by agriculture officials.

``Due to rainfall and to the presence of pyroclastic deposits, lahar (lava) flows may occur along major tributaries,'' the Philippine Institute of Vulcanology and Seismology said in a bulletin Friday.

``Residents near river banks and low-lying areas are therefore reminded to be very alert against these potentially destructive and life-threatening flows during the rains,'' it added.

The boiling rivers of mud could move down the volcano’s slopes at speeds of 10 to 30 feet a second, destroying everything in their path.