Manila Bulletin
Philippines
National
'Increased unrest': 74 rockfall events at Mayon Volcano in past 24 hours
Philippines
National
'Increased unrest': 74 rockfall events at Mayon Volcano in past 24 hours
'Increased unrest': 74 rockfall events at Mayon Volcano in past 24 hours
Published Jun 6, 2023 01:49 am
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded 74 rockfall events at Mayon Volcano in the last 24 hours as a result of the ongoing volcanic unrest.
In its bulletin issued at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, June 6, Phivolcs said the rockfall events lasted one to four minutes and “emplaced lava debris on the southern gullies within a kilometer from the summit crater.”
“Thin brownish-gray ash from the rockfalls also drifted to the general southwest,” it pointed out.
According to Phivolcs, “moderate” degassing from the summit crater continued, which produced steam-laden plumes that drifted to the west-southwest.
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission averaged 208 tons per day when it was last measured on June 5.
Phivolcs’ visual and camera monitoring of the Mayon Volcano on June 5, 2023 (Screengrab from Phivolcs)
“Short-term observations from EDM and electronic tiltmeter monitoring show the upper slopes to be inflating since February 2023. Longer-term ground deformation parameters based on EDM, precise leveling, continuous GPS, and electronic tilt monitoring indicate that Mayon is still inflated, especially on the northwest and southeast,” Phivolcs said.
Alert Level 2 was raised on June 5 due to the "increased unrest" at the Mayon Volcano.
“The public is reminded that there is current unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes that could eventually lead to phreatic eruptions or even precede hazardous magmatic eruptions,” Phivolcs said.
“Entry into the six-kilometer-radius permanent danger zone must be strictly prohibited to minimize risks from sudden explosions, rockfalls, and landslides. In case of ash fall events that may affect communities downwind of Mayon’s crater, people should cover their nose and mouth with a damp, clean cloth, or dust mask,” it pointed out.
Phivolcs also requested that authorities advise pilots to avoid flying near the volcano's summit because ash from a sudden eruption can be dangerous to aircraft.
Phivolcs’ visual and camera monitoring of the Mayon Volcano on June 5, 2023 (Screengrab from Phivolcs)
“Short-term observations from EDM and electronic tiltmeter monitoring show the upper slopes to be inflating since February 2023. Longer-term ground deformation parameters based on EDM, precise leveling, continuous GPS, and electronic tilt monitoring indicate that Mayon is still inflated, especially on the northwest and southeast,” Phivolcs said.
Alert Level 2 was raised on June 5 due to the "increased unrest" at the Mayon Volcano.
“The public is reminded that there is current unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes that could eventually lead to phreatic eruptions or even precede hazardous magmatic eruptions,” Phivolcs said.
“Entry into the six-kilometer-radius permanent danger zone must be strictly prohibited to minimize risks from sudden explosions, rockfalls, and landslides. In case of ash fall events that may affect communities downwind of Mayon’s crater, people should cover their nose and mouth with a damp, clean cloth, or dust mask,” it pointed out.
Phivolcs also requested that authorities advise pilots to avoid flying near the volcano's summit because ash from a sudden eruption can be dangerous to aircraft.