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 Wednesday said that earthquakes in Mayon Volcano have increased further to 304 over the last 24 hours.
Based on Phivolcs’ 5 a.m. bulletin, the volcanic earthquakes in Mayon, which remains under Alert Level 3, have continued to climb from 267 on July 18 to 304 on July 19.
The agency said the sulfur dioxide emission of the volcano also rose from 1,689 tons on July 18 to 1,945 on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, rockfall events decreased from 238 on July 18 to 137 on July 19.
Phivolcs said Mayon’s “very slow” effusion of lava flow stays at 2.8 kilometers (km) along Mi-isi Gully, extended to 2.4 km along Bonga Gully, and reached 600 meters along Basud Gully.
Locals were also warned that rockfalls, landslides, avalanches, ballistic fragments, lava flows, and moderate-sized explosions might occur within the area.
Citing its latest data, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the volcano’s unrest affected 38,377 individuals or 9,867 families residing in 26 barangays in Bicol Region.
NDRRMC said that the national government had already distributed P225,795,799 in assistance to affected locals.