‘Calm before the storm’ for Mayon—Phivolcs

After many days, Mayon Volcano on its alert level-3 shows again its beauty, for now, with no lava flow seen. Mayon is captured here in Kapuntukan Hill, also known as the Sleeping Lion Hill, in Legazpi City, Albay around 6:00 p.m. on September 20, 2014, Saturday. PHOTO BY MARK ALVIC ESPLANA/Inquirer Southern Luzon

MANILA, Philippines — It could be a period of mild activity for Mayon Volcano before the big one.

Mayon Volcano in Albay province has recorded minimal activities on Tuesday but the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said that it’s not always a positive sign.

Volcanologist Gerald Malipot said that Mayon recorded three volcanic quakes and 18 rockfall events on Tuesday.

There were also weak to moderate steam activities and no crater glows were monitored.

“This is a period of minimum activity, but it doesn’t mean that there is no danger,” Malipot said.

He added that Mayon had similar activities in 2009 before its eruption.

“These are the scenarios in past eruptions, like a calm before the storm.”

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