FILE PHOTO: Villages in areas identified as high-risk for lahar from Mayon Volcano are advised to be ready, especially during the typhoon season, as heavy and continuous rains may generate lahar flows along major channels. This image of Mayon was taken from Barangay Mabinit in Legazpi City on July 21, 2023. —MARK ALVIC ESPLANA
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded 185 rockfall events and 18 volcanic earthquakes in Mayon Volcano over the past 24 hours.
Two pyroclastic density currents (PDC) were also reported, the agency added.
“Rockfall and PDCs generated by collapses of the lava flow margins as well as of the summit dome deposited debris still within four (4) kilometers of the crater,” Phivolcs said on Thursday.
Besides the twin turbulence, the agency detected a 2,252-ton sulfur dioxide emission from the volcano on Wednesday.
Moreover, the effusion of lava from the summit crater remains “slow” as it continues to reach the established lava flows on the Bonga (southeastern), Mi-isi (south), and Basud (eastern) gullies which are about 3.4 kilometers, 2.8 kilometers, and 1.1 kilometers from the crater.
Alert level 3 remains at Mayon Volcano, meaning a “relatively high level of unrest and hazardous eruption” could happen within days or weeks.
Phivolcs recommended continuous evacuation from the 6-kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone to remain safe from PDCs, rock falls, lava flows, and other volcanic hazards.
“Increased vigilance against PDCs, lahars, and sediment-laden streamflows along channels draining the edifice is also advised. Heavy rainfall could generate channel-confined lahars and sediment-laden streamflows in channels where PDC deposits were emplaced,” it added.