Phivolcs records higher rock fall, pyroclastic flow in Mayon Volcano

FILE PHOTO: Continuous lava emitted by Mayon Volcano at the Bonga gully is visible in this photo taken on Sept. 24 at Barangay Bonga in Legazpi City. —JOHN MICHAEL L. MANJARES/CONTRIBUTOR

MANILA, Philippines — The state seismologists bureau reported “frequent incandescent rockfall and numerous pyroclastic density current (PDC) events” in the Mayon volcano’s Miisi and Bonga Gullies.

These were results of “increased lava effusion” from the volcano’s summit crater, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) in a post on the social media platform “X” on Tuesday night.

According to Phivolcs Science Research Specialist II Eric Arconado, more than 220 rockfall events were recorded from 5 a.m. on Tuesday to 5 a.m. on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, 53 PCDs and 40 tremors were also detected during the same period.

These are higher compared to two PCD and 98 rockfall events observed by the Mayon Volcano Network from Monday to Tuesday.

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Despite these recorded data, Arconado said there is no need for residents living near the volcano to panic, as this type of increased PCD and rockfall events happen occasionally.

“From June naman nangyayari ito from time to time [high number of PCD and rockfall events], basta continuous lang ‘yung lava effusion, so maintaining alert level 3 pa rin po kami sa Mayon,” Arconado told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview.

(This [high number of rockfall events] has been happening occasionally since June; the lava effusion is just continuous, so we are still maintaining alert level 3 in Mayon.)

“Actually, mayroon nga tayong mga rockfalls before na nasa 300,” he added.

(Actually, we have had rock falls before, which were around 300.)

Alert level 3 was first raised over Mayon volcano on June 8, indicating an elevated risk of a hazardous eruption.

JMS/abc