Phivolcs: Mayon Volcano’s status down to Alert Level 1

FILE PHOTO: Mt. Mayon is a picture of beauty and calm at daybreak on Sunday in this photo taken from Barangay Puro, Legazpi City.  —MARK ALVIC ESPLANA

MANILA, Philippines — The status of Mayon Volcano is now down to Alert Level 1 from Alert Level 2 due to the decline in the volcano’s state of unrest, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on Thursday.

“Phivolcs is now lowering the alert status of Mayon from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1,” the state seismologist said in an advisory.

“This means that the volcano’s state of unrest has declined to low levels and that the likelihood of an eruption occurring within the immediate future has diminished,” the agency also said.

The state seismologist said the volcanic earthquake activity of Mayon Volcano has decreased from its daily average of 0-1 since December 2022.

Also, since 2022, the state volcanologist said Mayon’s summit crater has spewed only weak to moderate degassing plumes 2022, and its summit lava dome has not exhibited further growth since.

Sulfur dioxide emission from the volcano has also decreased to 312 tons a day, below the background level of 500 tons a day, according to Phivolcs.

“Such relatively low levels are consistent with passive degassing of resting magma beneath the edifice,” the Phivolcs said.

Phivolcs raised the volcano’s classification in October 2022.

JMS