Alert Level 3 stays despite fewer quakes, pyroclastic density currents at Mayon Volcano
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded 11 low-frequency volcanic quakes (LFVQs) and one pyroclastic density current (PDC) at Mayon Volcano from Tuesday, July 25, to Wednesday, July 26.
These are down from 32 LFVQs and four PDCs during the previous 24-hour monitoring of the restive volcano in Albay.
However, Phivolcs said the slow effusion of lava from Mayon Volcano’s crater continued to feed and bulk up lava flows on the Mi-isi, Basud, and Bonga gullies on the southern, eastern, and southeastern flanks of the volcano, respectively, in the past 24 hours.
Lava flows on the Mi-isi, Basud, and Bonga gullies have maintained distal lengths of approximately 2.8 kilometers (km), 600 meters, and 2.8 km, respectively.
Phivolcs said debris was still deposited within four kilometers of the crater from rockfall and PDCs caused by the collapses of the lava flow margins and the summit dome.
In the past 24 hours, Mayon Volcano had 114 rockfall occurrences.
(Left) The Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument on board the ESA Copernicus Sentinel-5 satellite detected a significant sulfur dioxide plume from Mayon Volcano on June 28, 2023. (Right) An intense emissivity of a superheated degassing plume from Mayon crater as recorded by the Bical, Sto. Domingo Station. (Phivolcs)
(Left) The Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument on board the ESA Copernicus Sentinel-5 satellite detected a significant sulfur dioxide plume from Mayon Volcano on June 28, 2023. (Right) An intense emissivity of a superheated degassing plume from Mayon crater as recorded by the Bical, Sto. Domingo Station. (Phivolcs)
Heightened magmatic unrest persists
Given these observations, Phivolcs said Mayon Volcano remains on Alert Level 3, which means it is still in a relatively high level of unrest and that a potentially hazardous eruption may occur within weeks or even days. Communities near the restive volcano are recommended to maintain increased vigilance against lahars and sediment-laden stream flows along channels draining the volcano edifice, as heavy rainfall could cause channel-confined lahars and sediment-laden stream flows. Since Mayon Volcano’s status was upgraded twice in the past month, first to level 2 on June 5 and then to level 3 on June 8, Phivolcs strongly advised that entry into the six-kilometer permanent danger zone be strictly prohibited. Furthermore, it warned that ash fall may occur in areas south of Mayon Volcano due to current wind patterns. Phivolcs advised pilots to avoid flying near the volcano’s summit because ash from a sudden eruption can be dangerous to aircraft.