Albay bracing for landslides, lahar flows as ‘Usman’ looms

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay - The Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) is on alert for possible landslides and lahar flows that may be triggered by Tropical Depression Usman.

Dr. Cedric Daep told the Manila Bulletin on Friday that they're not taking chances with the weather disturbance, which may bring heavy rains.

" Ulan lang talaga yung paghahandaan kaya kailangan i-monitor yung rain gauge para malaman natin kung umabot sa threshold magpapaevacuate tayo. Pero kung hindi umabot sa threshold ng baha, tapos landslide at lahar, wala tayong movement," Daep explained.

Daep said that with the amount of rain that Tropical Depression Usman is carrying, it cannot guarantee lahar flows, but Daep noted that albay is still under threat due to rains since last week.

"Sa ngayon, hindi naman siguro kasi alert level 2. Yung ulan hindi siguro maka-garantiya na pagalawin yung mga baybay dyan, unless na umabot siya sa threshold. Sa ngayon siguro wala pa tayong peligro sa lahar. Pero tingnan natin kung lumakas ang ulan pag malapit na sa atin ang bagyo, dun tayo magmo-monitor kung kailangan natin pagalawin yung sa gilid ng ilog at sa mga lugar na delikado sa landslide.”.

Daep, citing a PAGASA advisory, said Tropical Depression Usman is expected to be closest to Albay at around 6 a.m. on Sunday, some 170 kilometers from the eye of the weather disturbance.