STILL RUMBLING | Mayon Volcano continuously generates pyroclastic density currents and lava flow, as seen in this photo 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 Monday said that it had recorded 184 volcanic earthquakes and 238 rockfall events in Mayon Volcano over the last 24 hours.
Based on its 5 a.m. bulletin, Phivolcs said the volcano, which remains under Alert Level 3, continues to display “intensified unrest or magmatic unrest.”
Earlier, the agency said it recorded lower volcanic earthquakes at 38 and higher rockfall events at 262.
Despite the spike in volcanic activities, Phivolcs data showed that the sulfur dioxide emission of Mayon dipped from 2,989 on July 15 to 1,689 on July 16.
On the other hand, its lava flow stayed at 2.8 kilometers (km) along Mi-isi Gully and 1.4 km along Bonga Gully. The lava dome collapse on both gullies remained 4 km along Basud Gully.
The agency warned locals that rockfalls, landslides, avalanches, ballistic fragments, lava flows, and moderate-sized explosions might occur within the area.
As of July 16, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the volcano’s unrest affected 38,377 residents or 9,867 families residing in 26 barangays in Bicol Region.
The agency said the national government had already distributed P175,700,771 to assist the affected residents.