8 quakes recorded on Mt. Mayon

LIGAO CITY —  A total of eight volcanic earthquakes were detected in the vicinity of  Mayon Volcano during the past 12 days, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Saturday.

In a bulletin, Phivolcs said their observatory on Lignon hill in Legazpi City recorded three volcanic quakes in the past 24 hours.

There were also three tremors recorded on November 1, while one quake each was recorded last November 7 and 10.

Moderate emission of white steam-laden plumes was observed while a faint crater glow from the summit could be observed at night, the agency said.

Phivolcs also said the lava dome has increased in size as of November 2.

Dr. Paul Karlson Alanis, resident volcanologist for Mt. Mayon, said the public is prohibited from entering the declared 6-kilometer permanent danger zone for their safety as sudden explosions, rockfalls, and collapse of the dome are likely possible to happen anytime.

On October 7, Phivolcs raised alert level 2 over Mayon Volcano due to its increasing unrest, over a month since alert level 1 was hoisted over the volcano on Aug. 21 after it showed “abnormal” activities.

Mount Mayon, one of the country’s active volcanoes, had its last steam-driven or phreatic eruption in January 2018.

READ: Albay gets ready as Mayon shows signs of ‘unrest’