Mount Mayon volcano in the Philippines has erupted, affecting 52 villages within a 6-kilometer radius. Authorities have deployed rescue teams and firefighters to manage the evacuation of thousands of residents. Ash and pyroclastic flows pose an imminent risk to the local population.
Drones and thermal sensors to monitor volcanic activity 🌋
Emergency teams are using drones equipped with thermal cameras to map inaccessible areas and detect hot spots. Real-time seismic sensors transmit data to control centers, allowing for the prediction of minor explosions. This technology, combined with AI-generated risk maps, facilitates the coordination of evacuations and the distribution of resources in the most critical areas.
The volcano didn't warn us, but at least the Wi-Fi works 📱
Evacuees, while waiting in temporary centers, have discovered that the only thing more active than Mayon is the community's WhatsApp group. Between selfies with the ash cloud in the background and memes about the lava, people show that even if the ground shakes, the data signal doesn't fail. At least the disaster has good coverage.