Manila Bulletin
Philippines
National
Mayon Volcano remains at alert level 3 despite lava effusion continuing to weaken
Philippines
National
Mayon Volcano remains at alert level 3 despite lava effusion continuing to weaken
Mayon Volcano remains at alert level 3 despite lava effusion continuing to weaken
Published Jul 28, 2023 05:31 am
The slow lava effusion from Mayon Volcano, which has fed lava flows in three gullies, has continued to weaken significantly over the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on Friday, July 28.
“In the past 24-hour period, there has been a marked weakening of slow lava effusion from the summit crater of Mayon Volcano that fed lava flows on the Mi-isi (south), Bonga (southeastern), and Basud (eastern) gullies,” Phivolcs said in its bulletin issued at 8 a.m.
“The two former lava flows have maintained distal lengths of approximately 2.8 kilometers and 600 meters from the crater, while the Bonga lava flow advanced to approximately 3.1 kilometers,” it added.
Mayon Volcano ejects massive pyroclastic density currents toward the Basud Gully in Sto. Domingo town in Albay province around 5:30 p.m. on July 10, 2023. (Niño Luces/Manila Bulletin)
Although there has been a significant decrease in Mayon Volcano’s lava effusion, Phivolcs reminded that the volcano is still under Alert Level 3, which means that a hazardous eruption is still possible within weeks or even days. Between Thursday, July 27, and Friday, July 28, Phivolcs recorded 47 low-frequency volcanic quakes, one pyroclastic density current, and 49 rockfall events. 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.
Mayon Volcano ejects massive pyroclastic density currents toward the Basud Gully in Sto. Domingo town in Albay province around 5:30 p.m. on July 10, 2023. (Niño Luces/Manila Bulletin)
Although there has been a significant decrease in Mayon Volcano’s lava effusion, Phivolcs reminded that the volcano is still under Alert Level 3, which means that a hazardous eruption is still possible within weeks or even days. Between Thursday, July 27, and Friday, July 28, Phivolcs recorded 47 low-frequency volcanic quakes, one pyroclastic density current, and 49 rockfall events. 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.