MANILA — Mayon Volcano was placed on Alert Level 3 on Thursday noon after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) observed an increase in rockfall events since June 3.
Phivolcs, in a bulletin, said that the “volume of discrete rockfall events increased on June 3 based on the seismic record, signaling an increase in the rate of dome growth”.
“Three pyroclastic density current or PDC events on the Bonga (southeast) and Basud (east) Gullies were observed today at 6:18 a.m., 9:53 a.m. and 11 a.m. The PDCs lasted four to five minutes based on the seismic record and emplaced within a kilometer of the summit crater. In contrast, SO2 emission remains at baseline or background levels,” Phivolcs said.
The agency warned that Mayon is exhibiting magmatic eruption, a potential explosive activity within weeks or days.
“In view thereof, Phivolcs-DOST is now raising the alert status of Mayon Volcano from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 3. This means that Mayon is exhibiting magmatic eruption of a summit lava dome, with increased chances of lava flow and hazardous PDCs affecting the upper to middle slopes of the volcano and of potential explosive activity within weeks or even days,” Phivolcs said.
“It is therefore recommended that the 6-km radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) be evacuated due to the danger of PDCs, lava flows, rockfalls and other volcanic hazards. Increased vigilance against pyroclastic density currents, lahars and sediment-laden streamflows along channels draining the edifice is also advised,” it added.
Aside from the rockfall, residents also observed ash fall over Legazpi City and Daraga in Albay.
Miladee Azur, head of disaster risk reduction and management office in this city, said residents in villages of Cruzada, Baño and others reported that they noticed the thin layer of ash on their vehicles.
In Daraga town, Armel Alcantara, 59, a resident of Barangay Gapo also noticed his solar panels and car covered with ash when he woke up around 6 a.m.
Paul Karson Alanis, resident volcanologist at Phivolcs – Legazpi, said they also observed the ashfall at their office on Ligñon Hill in Barangay Bogtong in this city.
Alanis said the wind carried the ash to the south of the volcano, facing this city, and towns of Daraga and Camalig.
On June 5, Phivolcs raised Alert Level 2 over Mayon due to the rockfalls observed since January 2023.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines also issued a notice to airmen, barring planes from flying within 10,000 feet above the surface of Mayon Volcano. (April Mier-Manjares, Gabriel Pabico Lalu © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
