Mayon spews ash 3 times

LEGAZPI CITY – Mayon Volcano had three phreatic or steam-driven explosions on Tuesday afternoon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Dr. Paul Alanis, Phivolcs senior science research specialist, said the phreatic eruptions happened at 3:10 p.m., 3:18 p.m. and 3:34 p.m.

He said the grayish ash column reached about 500 meters to one kilometer.

Prior to the explosions, Phivolcs instruments also recorded two volcanic quakes.

Two phreatic explosions also occurred on Thursday and Friday.

In an earlier interview, Alanis said the phreatic eruptions were “just normal occurrence, signs that signify the volcano is still restive.”

The two steam-driven explosions were triggered by the volcano’s natural “degassing process,” Alanis explained.

Mayon is still at alert level two, meaning the volcano is at a moderate level of unrest.

Entering the six-kilometer permanent danger zone around Mayon Volcano is strictly prohibited./lzb