LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — Restive Mayon Volcano blew ash into the air and into towns that are near it early Wednesday, according to volcanologists.
Alex Baloloy, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) science research analyst, said the mild explosion was a clear sign that magma was rising in the volcano’s crater.
The explosion lasted for about three minutes followed by rumbling sounds.
Residents in the towns of Camalig, Guinobatan, Polangui and Oas and Ligao City reported seeing ash falls.
Baloloy said materials (believed to be melting rocks) glowing in the volcano’s upper slopes were seen by residents in Barangay Lidong in Sto. Domingo town and in Barangays Tumpa and Anoling in Camalig town.
Ash falls were also reported in the villages of Tumpa in Camalig; Travesia, Maipon, Masarawag, Doña Tumasa, Muladbukad Grande and Pequeño in Guinobatan; and Nabonton and Nasisi in Ligao City.
Volcanologists, however, failed to record the height of the ash column as dark clouds obstructed the view of the volcano and it was still dark when the explosion occurred.
Winds brought ash drifting to towns southwest, west and northwest of the volcano.
Another ash explosion was recorded past 7:00 a.m. This time, volcanologists said the ash column was 300 meters high.
Phivolcs has kept Alert Level 2 in place around Mayon. Baloloy said more explosions were likely to occur as the volcano remains restive.
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda put rescue workers on high alert and reiterated an order for people to stay away from a 6-kilometer radius permanent danger zone and a 7-km radius extended danger zone.
The 2,462-m tall volcano, 300 km southeast of Manila, first blew ash on Sept. 15.
A smaller, single ash explosion was recorded by Phivolcs Oct. 28. Mayon, the most active volcano in the country, has erupted at least 50 times since 1616.
Its worst eruption buried Cagsawa town and killed 1,200 people in 1814. An eruption in 1993 killed more than 70 farmers. It erupted again in 2006. Rey M. Nasol, Inquirer Southern Luzon
