Mayon, Kanlaon spew volcanic ash
A plume of ash rises from Mayon Volcano during another episode of activity on Friday, Feb. 13,, as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology maintains Alert Level 3, warning of possible hazardous eruptions and urging residents within the danger zone to remain evacuated.(Phivolcs photo)
LEGAZPI CITY – Two of the country’s most active volcanoes showed renewed activity on Friday, sending plumes of ash into the sky and prompting warnings for nearby communities.
In Albay, Mayon Volcano emitted a grayish ash column that rose 50 meters above its crater, while Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Occidental erupted ash that drifted over two cities and three towns, covering barangays with a fine layer of volcanic dust.
READ: Phivolcs: Rains from Basyang may trigger lahar around Kanlaon
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Mayon’s ash events were recorded at 8:21 a.m. and 8:27 a.m. through time-lapse footage from the Mayon Volcano Observatory’s cameras.
Danger zone
Alert level 3 remains in effect at Mayon, indicating a relatively high level of unrest, Phivolcs said.
Residents were warned to avoid the 6-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone, as sudden explosions, lava flows, rockfalls, and pyroclastic density currents may occur.
In Negros Occidental, ashfall from Kanlaon Volcano was reported in two cities and three towns.
Mari Andylene Quintia, resident volcanologist at the Phivolcs observatory in La Carlota City, said the volcano erupted at 12:50 a.m., with the ash plume rising 300 meters above the crater. The eruption lasted 17 minutes.
Phivolcs received reports of ashfall in several barangays in La Carlota and Bago cities. In La Carlota, affected barangays included Ara-al, Yubo, San Miguel, Haguimit, La Granja, RSB, Nagasi, Cubay and Balabag. In Bago City, ashfall was reported in Mailum and Ilihan.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office also recorded ashfall in Pontevedra, particularly in the villages of Antipolo, Mabini, Gomez, Poblacion 1–3, and Zamora, as well as in nearby La Castellana town.
