Mayon volcanic quakes spike as 100 cases logged in less than 12 hours

MANILA, Philippines — The seismic unrest due to Mayon Volcano has continued to increase as 100 volcanic earthquakes were recorded in less than 12 hours this Monday alone, state seismologists said.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded the said number of volcanic tremors between 5:00 am to 3:00 pm on Monday.

From 5:00 a.m. on June 25 to 5:00 a.m. on June 26, 102 volcanic earthquakes were recorded by Phivolcs.

READ: Mayon volcanic quakes spike: 102 instances in 24 hours

“An increasing number of weak and shallow volcanic earthquakes began on 24 June 2023 and steadily increased to 102 volcanic earthquakes during a 24-hour period between 25 and 26 June 2023,” the Phivolcs said in its advisory. “Between 5:00 AM and 3:00 PM today, an additional 100 volcanic earthquakes were recorded.”

The volcano monitor also noted that aside from an increase in volcanic earthquakes, there is also an increase in seismic activity of the volcano.

“Some of the analyzed earthquakes that could be located emanated from the summit lava dome, indicating origins from lava extrusion processes at the crater.

“The increased seismicity was accompanied by a noticeable sharp jump in ground tilt on the southwest sector of the edifice that began on 25 June 2023,” the Phivolcs further said.

Despite this, the state volcanologist said Mayon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3, but “a sudden change in monitoring parameters has been detected and is being closely monitored.”

The volcano has been under Alert Level 3 since June 8 due to “potential explosive activity happening within days or weeks.”

According to the volcano monitor, the unrest in Mayon Volcano could last for a few months based on their observations.

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