STILL RUMBLING | Mayon Volcano continuously generates pyroclastic density currents and lava flow as seen in this photo taken at 5:40 p.m. on Monday, July 10, 2023, in Daraga, Albay. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recorded increased activity on Monday morning due to lava dome collapse. (Contributed photo by DENNIS MIRABUENO)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Sunday recorded a decrease in Mayon Volcano’s rockfall and pyroclastic density current (PDC) events, as well as earthquakes.
Based on its 5 a.m. bulletin, Phivolcs said it monitored nine volcanic earthquakes, 270 rockfall events, and three pyroclastic density currents (PDC) in Mayon, over the last 24 hours.
Earlier, the agency recorded higher volcanic earthquakes at 39, rockfall events at 362, and five PDCs.
However, Phivolcs said that sulfur dioxide emission of Mayon, which remains under Alert Level 3, increased from 2,132 tons on July 14 to 2,989 tons on July 15.
Phivolcs said that Mayon’s “very slow” effusion of lava flow stays at 2.8 kilometers (km) along Mi-isi Gully and 1.4 km along Bonga Gully, while lava dome collapse on both gullies extended to 4 km along Basud Gully.
On Saturday, Phivolcs warned residents near Mayon that heavy rainfall “could generate channel-confined lahars and sediment-laden streamflows in channels” of the volcano.
The agency likewise warned locals that rockfalls, landslides, avalanches, ballistic fragments, lava flows, and moderate-sized explosions might occur within the area.