Manila, Jan. 12 -- The Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (Apsemo) is preparing for the possible evacuation of nearly 80,000 residents, or about 19,758 families, should Mayon Volcano's alert level be raised to Alert Level 4.

In a phone interview, Apsemo chief Roderick Mendoza said the families come from 59 barangays in nine local government units located within the extended seven- to eight-kilometer danger zone.

Mendoza said the provincial government is closely coordinating with the Department of Education (DepEd) to ready schools that may be used as evacuation centers, including preparations for logistics and essential supplies.

"We are coordinating with the Department of Education (DepEd) for preparations for evacuat...