Even animals, from chickens to carabaos, were not spared from the mandatory evacuation as policemen and soldiers braved the danger zones around Mayon Volcano to look for stubborn residents who refused to leave their homes amid increase in the activities of the volcano that prompt experts to believe that it is only a matter of days before a major eruption occurs.

Armed with ghastly pictures of victims of previous Mayon explosions in the past, soldiers and policemen have been conducting 24-hour rounds around the six-kilometer and eight-kilometer permanent and danger zones and would show the images to hardheaded residents in order to scare and subsequently compelled them to move to the evacuation centers, said Senior Superintendent William Macavinta, director of the Albay Provincial Police Office.

“We have been conducting spotting operations in the declared danger zones as part of the 24-hour curfew imposed by the Albay Provincial government effective last night (Thursday), our personnel would show those pictures of burned victims in past explosions as part of our effort to convince them to leave,” said Macavinta in a phone interview.

“Our personnel would explain to them that they would suffer the same fate as that of those in the pictures if they are trapped. We also tell them that the volcanic materials are twice or thrice as faster as a car and they (volcanic materials) would even melt them if they were hit,” he stressed.

Macavinta said the use of pictures was ordered by Albay Governor Joey Salceda and has been coordinated with the Commission on Human Rights.

The official said they are nearing the evacuation of all residents in the declared danger zones and the only problem they are facing are some residents who would either refused to leave or go back to their homes although they were already transported to the evacuation centers.