Mayon remains at Alert Level 3 as Phivolcs sees no signs to lower it

Up close look of Mayon Volcano Crater Summit in Barangay Mabinit, Legazpi City, Albay province at around 7:37 p.m., June 15, 2023, Thursday. MARK ALVIC ESPLANA / INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — Mayon Volcano will remain at Alert Level 3 as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has seen no evidence to lower it.

On Friday, state volcanologists even noted that Mayon’s diffusive eruption may continue for at least three months.

“Wala pa pong indication na we have to lower the alert level because as of the moment, technically, nage-erupt pa rin ‘yung volcano. It’s just that it’s a diffusive eruption pero eruption pa rin po ‘yun,” Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Sakto.

(Since the volcano is still erupting, we have no reason to lower the warning level. It’s an eruption, but diffusive. sive eruption but it’s still an eruption.)

READ: LIVE UPDATES: Mayon Volcano

In the past 24 hours, Phivolcs recorded a slightly higher number of rockfall events and sulfur dioxide emissions at 339 and 706 metric tons, respectively, according to Bacolcol.

Months-long diffuse eruption

The Phivolcs official said that although these events remain at the low-level parameters, these are still signs that the volcano’s diffusive eruption will take months before calming down.

“Hopefully hindi ‘yan (parameters) magbabago. Kung dire-diretso ‘yan, walang abrupt changes within the next few days, this would probably take at least three months,” said Bacolcol.

(Hopefully that [parameters] won’t change. If that’s sustained, no abrupt changes within the next few days, this would probably take at least three months.)

He then reiterated that any human activity is still prohibited inside Mayon Volcano’s six-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ).

Earlier, the provincial government of Albay ordered the evacuation of residents within 7 kilometers of Mayon. But Bacolcol said Phivolcs only continues to recommend evacuation within the 6-kilometer PDZ.

kga/abc

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