Manila Bulletin
Philippines
National
'High-level unrest': Mayon Volcano continues to emit ash, steam-laden plumes
Philippines
National
'High-level unrest': Mayon Volcano continues to emit ash, steam-laden plumes
'High-level unrest': Mayon Volcano continues to emit ash, steam-laden plumes
Published Jun 11, 2023 02:01 am
Mayon Volcano’s rockfall and moderate degassing activities have continued to produce ash and steam-laden plumes in the last 24 hours, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Sunday, June 11.
Based on the seismic and visual data collected by Phivolcs, Mayon Volcano experienced 177 rockfall events and one volcanic earthquake during the 24-hour monitoring of the active volcano in Albay.
“The rockfall events emplaced lava debris on the south and southeastern gullies within 700 meters from the summit crater,” Phivolcs said.
“Thin ash from the rockfalls and continuous moderate degassing from the summit crater produced steam-laden plumes that were bent and crept downslope before drifting to the general southeast,” it added.
Moreover, Phivolcs observed a “fair crater glow or ‘banaag’ and incandescent rockfall shed from new fluidal lava” at the volcano’s summit on Saturday evening.
Mayon Volcano Crater sees the emergence of a new summit lava dome in the first week of June 2023 after the pre-existing one was gradually pushed out by rockfall. The Mayon Volcano Observatory took this photo around 5:45 a.m. on June 10, 2023. (Phivolcs/Facebook)
As there is magma at the crater, Mayon Volcano’s status was raised to alert level 3 on June 8, which means it is “currently in a relatively high level of unrest.”
Phivolcs warned that “hazardous eruption is possible within weeks or even days.”
It recommended the evacuation of residents within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone due to risk of pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), lava flows, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards.
It also advised increased vigilance against PDCs, lahars, and sediment-laden stream flows along channels draining the volcano edifice.
Phivolcs said that heavy rainfall could cause channel-confined lahars and sediment-laden stream flows in channels where PDC deposits were emplaced.
Likewise, it said that ash fall events may “most likely” occur on the south side of the volcano based on the current prevailing wind pattern.
Phivolcs advised civil aviation authorities to request that pilots refrain from flying close to the volcano because ash from sudden eruption may pose hazards to aircraft.
Mayon Volcano Crater sees the emergence of a new summit lava dome in the first week of June 2023 after the pre-existing one was gradually pushed out by rockfall. The Mayon Volcano Observatory took this photo around 5:45 a.m. on June 10, 2023. (Phivolcs/Facebook)
As there is magma at the crater, Mayon Volcano’s status was raised to alert level 3 on June 8, which means it is “currently in a relatively high level of unrest.”
Phivolcs warned that “hazardous eruption is possible within weeks or even days.”
It recommended the evacuation of residents within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone due to risk of pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), lava flows, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards.
It also advised increased vigilance against PDCs, lahars, and sediment-laden stream flows along channels draining the volcano edifice.
Phivolcs said that heavy rainfall could cause channel-confined lahars and sediment-laden stream flows in channels where PDC deposits were emplaced.
Likewise, it said that ash fall events may “most likely” occur on the south side of the volcano based on the current prevailing wind pattern.
Phivolcs advised civil aviation authorities to request that pilots refrain from flying close to the volcano because ash from sudden eruption may pose hazards to aircraft.