Australia donates AUD775,000 to Mayon affected locals

The Australian government on Wednesday announced humanitarian support for local communities affected by the eruption of Mayon volcano in Albay province. (Pixabay photo)

MANILA — The Australian government on Wednesday announced humanitarian support for local communities affected by the eruption of Mayon volcano in Albay province.

According to Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, some PHP31.6 million (AUD775,000) worth of assistance will be provided through the Philippines Red Cross to help 30,000 people living in evacuation centres access tarpaulins, sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets, jerry cans and hygiene supplies.

The Philippine government already established an exclusion zone around the volcano and evacuated surrounding communities after it began erupting on January 13.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Monday raised Mayon volcano’s alert level to 4 after it billowed two successive 10-km. cauliflower-type ash columns, sending heavy ashfalls in the towns of Camalig, Guinobatan, and Ligao City.

The Albay Public Safety Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) extended the danger zone to a 9-km. radius, the number of families affected has increased to 14,241 or 56,217 individuals as of Tuesday afternoon.

Many of these evacuees were forced to leave their homes at short notice with few or no belongings.