page_title: Effects of Typhoon Durian in the Philippines
section_title: Mayon Volcano
hierarchical_section_title: Effects of Typhoon Durian in the Philippines / Impact / Mayon Volcano
caption_attribution_description: English: Locator map of Legazpi in Albay, Philippines.
context_page_description: Typhoon Durian, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Reming, caused heavy damage across the island nation in November 2006. On November 30, 2006, Durian became the fourth typhoon equivalent to a Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale to strike the Philippine island of Luzon, having earlier brushed the offshore Catanduanes. The storm crossed the country, but damage was heaviest in southeastern Luzon, particularly around the Mayon Volcano in the Bicol region. Intense rainfall affecting the volcano, estimated at around 600 mm, caused deadly lahars, or volcanic landslides. Six nearby villages were nearly destroyed, with thousands of homes washed away in minutes.
context_section_description: The eye of Durian passed near Mayon Volcano as it struck the Bicol region. In the mountainous region, a process known as orographic lift produced heavier rainfall than near the coast, with totals possibly as high as 600 mm (24 in). On November 30, the rainfall became very heavy and prolonged, saturating the soil. Lahars – a type of landslide originating from a volcanic ash – formed quickly along the southern and eastern rims of Mayon Volcano, which had produced a fresh layer of ash in August 2006. The lahars destroyed dykes and dams meant to contain the debris flow, which were not designed to prevent major landslides. Warnings were issued for potential lahars, but the rapid development of the debris flows as well as power outages meant populations did not receive adequate warning. Initially, the lahars were contained by a layer of grasslands, although the unstable nature of the volcanic soil caused the grounds to collapse. Within 21 minutes, the lahars descended Mayon Volcano, quickly covering and wrecking six communities. After the initial series of lahars, further ash flow descended to the ocean to the north of Mayon Volcano.
  North of Legazpi, the ash flow covered or damaged portions of the Pan-Philippine Highway. In the small barangay – small town – of Maipon, nearby streams coalesced into a valley filled with muddy waters. The landslide arrived quickly and washed away or destroyed houses in the path. Several people died while attempting to cross to higher grounds. Similar conditions affected nearby Daraga, where 149 people died. Around that city, the landslide reached 2 m (6.6 ft) deep and 307 m (1,007 ft) wide, enough to cover 3 story buildings, while floods enlarged the nearby Yawa River by 600%. About 13,000 families had to leave their homes due to the landslides.
  In Albay province alone, there were 604 deaths and 1,465 people who sustained injuries. Damage in the province totaled $71 million (USD). The storm also damaged 702 of the 704 schools in the province.
caption: Map of Legazpi within Albay province, in relation to Mayon Volcano
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