Ash from Mount Mayon eruption impacts communities in the Philippines

Mount Mayon, known as the most active volcano in the Philippines, erupted on May 2, releasing massive clouds of ash, obscuring visibility, devastating farmlands and creating a respiratory risk for families in the Philippines. More than 400 families served by Unbound in Legazpi have been impacted. Local staff are closely monitoring the situation and identifying critical community needs.

Klaire Villaluz, an Unbound Legazpi staff member, witnessed the eruption as she was driving home. While at first she did not realize how dense the ash plumes were, the sky quickly turned dark and thick ash began falling on her windshield, turning a one-hour drive into a three-hour journey.

“It was like a scene from a movie,” Villaluz said. “There was zero visibility.”

Unbound staff assesses recovery needs

The local Unbound team was mobilizing to provide immediate assistance to impacted sponsored families, beginning with distribution of essential needs including food, clean water, masks and hygiene supplies. They will continue to assess and gather detailed information to provide resources for families in need.

According to Angelina Bermas, coordinator of the Unbound Legazpi program, approximately 405 families served by Unbound have been impacted by this eruption.

All urgent needs will be communicated to Unbound’s Kansas City office so that Unbound Critical Needs funds can be deployed to support the affected families.

Media reports indicate this is the strongest effusive eruption since Mount Mayon’s activity began in January of this year. The government has had the country on Alert Level 3 since January and now has urged people to stay indoors following this ashfall. The Department of Health is distributing N95 masks while Public Works attempts to clear accumulated ash from the highways.

While no injuries have been reported, driving is hazardous, and authorities are asking people to stay in their homes. Many families will suffer a devastating loss to the primary source of their livelihood because of the damage to agricultural lands and crops.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reports that magma continues to be close to or at the surface, so ongoing activity may lead to further potentially dangerous eruptions.

The Mayon Volcano is in the province of Albay in the Bicol region, located on the southeastern part of the island of Luzon. Known for its nearly perfect cone shape, Mayon rises over 8,000 feet above the Albay Gulf and is a popular tourist destination.

How to help families affected by disaster

As reports continue to come in from the field and Unbound assesses the extent of families’ needs, here are steps sponsors and others can take now to help.

• • Pray. The Unbound community is keeping all those affected and those assisting with relief efforts in our prayers.


• • Learn about and donate to the Critical Needs Fund, which assists families in the aftermath of events such as floods, severe storms, earthquakes and fires.

Regional Reporter Tristan John Cabrera and Unbound Legazpi staff contributed information and photos for this story.