Cables powering Mayon monitoring station cut, stolen – Phivolcs

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Wednesday said cables used for real-time monitoring data communications at Mayon Volcano were stolen in Albay.

According to Phivolcs, the cables were discovered to be cut and stolen during a routine maintenance activity by Mayon Volcano Observatory personnel at the Ligao Observation Station (VMLI) in Paulog, Ligao City, Albay Province.

READ: Phivolcs quake detection tools on Mt. Pinatubo stolen

Among the cables looted were six of meter solar cables, three meters of battery cables, five meters of liquid-tight conduit cables, as well as three meters of LAN/FTP cables.

“These items are essential to VMLI’s autonomous power generation, supply and storage and real-time volcano monitoring data communications,” Phivolcs said in a statement, adding that without the cables, the VMLI was rendered non-operational.

Phivolcs then noted that Republic Act 10344 or the Risk Reduction and Preparedness Equipment Protection Act of 2012 penalizes “the unauthorized taking, stealing, keeping or tampering of government risk reduction and preparedness equipment, accessories and similar facilities.” 

With this, the agency called on local government units and communities around Mayon Volcano to help keep monitoring facilities safe. Phivolcs also asked the public to report any information involving theft to the relevant authorities.

Phivolcs noted that since it started operating in July 2019, the VMLI has provided critical data to help track volcanic earthquakes and understand activity during Mayon’s 2023 and ongoing 2026 eruptions.

The station is also positioned to monitor possible earthquakes along a nearby fault line in the Bicol Peninsula. /jpv /atm