Phivolcs lowers Mayon volcano’s alert status to level 2

This photo of the Mayon volcano, taken around 9 a.m. of January 23, 2018, shows a thick ash column coming from its mouth. (Photo contributed by Edilberto Naño)

LEGAZPI CITY – The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has lowered Mount Mayon’s alert status from level 3 to level 2 on Maundy Thursday.

“Mayon’s volcano monitoring network and active observation of day-to-day conditions have recorded a general decline in unrest,” noted Phivolcs’ 8 a.m. bulletin.

The agency also said that among their observations on Mayon include the volcano’s diminished crater glow “from intense to faint,” the lack of lava effusion since the one last observed on March 18, and the stabilization of gravity-driven lava flow.

“The decline in observable surface parameters is consistent with the cessation of magma supply to the shallow levels of the volcanic edifice,” the Phivolcs bulletin further said.

Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara, who also heads the provincial disaster risk reduction and management, ordered local government units of Camalig, Guinobatan, Malilipot, and Tabaco City to send home all their evacuees, who sought temporary shelter in schools in January.

The volcano showed heightened signs of unrest in January that prompted Phivolcs to raise the alert status on Mayon up to level 4.

As of Wednesday, there were still 1,300 families – or 5,016 individuals – living in nine evacuation centers in Albay.            /kga