Mayon Volcano’s seismic activities increase

MANILA, Philippines — Mayon Volcano in Albay logged more seismic activities for the past 24 hours than the day before, the state seismologist said on Saturday.

Based on the 24-hour monitoring of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), Mayon Volcano recorded 254 volcanic earthquakes.

These activities include 36 volcanic tremors which lasted for one to 15 minutes, 287 rockfall events, and two pyroclastic density current signals. 

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The volcano also exhibited lava effusion with lava flow reaching 3.8 kilometers into Basud gully, 3.2 kilometers into Bonga gully, and 1.3 kilometers into Mi-isi gully, with episodic minor strombolian activity and short-lived lava fountaining. 

Aside from this, the volcano released 2,676 tons of sulfur dioxide on Friday, compared to 1,738 tons logged on Thursday. 

Mayon remains under Alert Level 3 or intensified unrest.

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These are more than the 71 volcanic earthquakes, including eight volcanic tremors which lasted for two to five minutes, and 284 rockfall events from the day before. 

As the volcano is still placed under the Alert Level 3 status, Phivolcs said that entry into the six-kilometer radius or the permanent danger zone and flying any aircraft close to the volcano are prohibited. 

It also warned the nearby communities that hazards such as rockfalls, ballistic fragments, lava flows, PDCs, moderate-sized explosions, and lahars are possible. /apl