Mayon Volcano: 162 rockfalls, 50 pyroclastic currents in 24 hours
MANILA, Philippines — Mayon Volcano in Albay remained under Alert Level 3 as it recorded a total of 162 rockfall events, 50 pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), and one volcanic earthquake over the past 24 hours, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Thursday.
In a separate interview with dzMM Teleradyo, Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol explained that PDCs, or uson, are dangerous as they are an avalanche of a mixture of ashes, rocks, and gas that can flow as fast as 100 kilometers per hour.
READ: Crater glow seen at Mayon Volcano Wednesday evening
Bacolcol also said that due to the continuous rockfall events and PDCs observed over the volcano, there is a constant supply of magma “which leads to the lava dome growth.”
“While the lava dome grows, it becomes unstable, and we can see rockfall events that will eventually lead to pyroclastic density currents,” Bacolcol added.
Meanwhile, Phivolcs in its latest monitoring bulletin said that a crater glow was observed over the summit of the volcano. In a Facebook post on Wednesday night, Phivolcs noted that a crater glow was seen between 6:36 p.m. and 7 p.m. after “superheated volcanic gas from new magma lights up the atmosphere above the crater.”
READ: Phivolcs places Mayon Volcano under Alert Level 3
Aside from this, Phivolcs said that the volcano has emitted 773 tons of sulfur dioxide since Monday. It also generated a plume which rose 200 meters above the crater and drifted northeast.
The volcano was placed under Alert Level 3, which signifies intensified unrest, on Tuesday due to its increasing number and volume of rockfall events since the volcano’s alert level was raised from Alert Level 1 to Alert Level 2 last January 1.
Phivolcs continued to prohibit entry into the six-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone and flying of any aircraft close to the volcano. It then reminded nearby residents of possible hazards such as rockfalls or landslides, ballistic fragments, lava flow, PDCs, moderate-sized explosions, and lahars. /das
