Ashfall from Mt. Mayon blankets parts of Albay town

Mt. Mayon is a picture of beauty and calm at daybreak in this photo taken from Barangay Puro, Legazpi City. FILE PHOTO

LEGAZPI CITY – Thin ashfall due to “ashing” or a short burst of ash and gas of Mayon Volcano blanketed some parts of Guinobatan town in Albay early Monday, Nov. 20 .

Joy Maravillas, head of the Guinobatan disaster risk reduction and management office, said the ashfall reached the villages of San Francisco and Maipon and the town center.

Mayor Paul Chino Garcia said the ashfall was short-lived but they were still monitoring the situation.

“As of now, our area is clear, but the monitoring is continuous as volcanic ash might pour with the rain,” Garcia said in a chat message.

He said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that around 30 rockfalls, one pyroclastic density current, one volcanic earthquake with ashing, and a tremor were recorded at the volcano.

Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol said ashing is caused by degassing or the sudden release of steam with ash.

“Ashing happens when a volcano releases a short burst of ash and gas into the air. This creates a visible plume that rises quickly but it spreads out rapidly,” Bacolcol told the Inquirer in a text message. INQ

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