The first tropical cyclone of the year, tropical storm Nokaen, known locally as Ada, is expected to cause lahars and muddy streamflows around Mayon Volcano on Luzon island. The storm, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts up to 80 kilometers per hour, is moving slowly northward over the Philippine Sea, east of the Eastern Visayas in central Philippines.
According to the state weather bureau, PAGASA, Nokaen is forecasted to impact the eastern coast of southern Luzon over the weekend. Due to its projected path, heavy to intense rainfall of 100 to 200 millimeters is anticipated, especially in areas surrounding Mayon Volcano in Albay province.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has issued warnings that the storm’s intense rainfall could trigger volcanic sediment flows or lahars in rivers and drainage channels around the volcano. Phivolcs emphasized the potential risks of syn-eruption lahars and hot lahars causing scalding upon contact, posing severe and life-threatening dangers.
In Albay province, where ongoing volcanic activity has already displaced thousands of residents living near Mayon’s slopes, authorities are concerned that heavy rains from Nokaen could exacerbate conditions in evacuation centers and complicate emergency response efforts. Residents in affected and nearby areas are advised to take necessary precautions and stay vigilant for further updates as tropical storm Nokaen progresses northward.
