Manila Bulletin
Philippines
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Mayon's collapsed lava front produces 200-meter-high 'light brown' plume
Philippines
National
Mayon's collapsed lava front produces 200-meter-high 'light brown' plume
Mayon's collapsed lava front produces 200-meter-high 'light brown' plume
Published Jul 3, 2023 03:13 am
Mayon Volcano’s ongoing eruption led to another collapse of its lava front and longer pyroclastic flows that produced a light brown plume on Monday, July 3, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
Phivolcs monitored two pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) caused by the collapse of Mayon’s lava front, which resulted in the formation of a 200-meter-high light brown plume.
Two PDCs triggered by the lava dome collapse, 295 rockfall events, and three volcanic earthquakes were also recorded in the past 24 hours.
The Mayon Volcano’s status has been elevated twice in the past month, first to level 2 on June 5 and then to level 3 on June 8 due to “increasing unrest.”
The restive Mayon Volcano spews steam-laden plumes visible from Sumlang Lake in Camalig and Legazpi City Albay on June 16, 2023. (ALI VICOY/MANILA BULLETIN)
“In the past 24-hour period, very slow effusion of lava from the summit crater of Mayon Volcano continued to feed lava flows and collapse debris on the Mi-isi (south) and Bonga (southeastern) gullies as well as rockfall and PDCs on these [Mi-isi and Bonga gullies] and the Basud (eastern) Gullies,” Phivolcs said.
Lava flows from Mayon have advanced approximately 2.7 kilometers and 1.3 kilometers on the Mi-isi and Bonga gullies, respectively, while collapsed debris has reached a distance of 4 kilometers from the crater.
A “moderate” amount of sulfur dioxide was also constantly emitted from the Mayon crater, producing a 500-meter-high steam-laden plume that drifted west and west-northwestward.
The restive Mayon Volcano spews steam-laden plumes visible from Sumlang Lake in Camalig and Legazpi City Albay on June 16, 2023. (ALI VICOY/MANILA BULLETIN)
“In the past 24-hour period, very slow effusion of lava from the summit crater of Mayon Volcano continued to feed lava flows and collapse debris on the Mi-isi (south) and Bonga (southeastern) gullies as well as rockfall and PDCs on these [Mi-isi and Bonga gullies] and the Basud (eastern) Gullies,” Phivolcs said.
Lava flows from Mayon have advanced approximately 2.7 kilometers and 1.3 kilometers on the Mi-isi and Bonga gullies, respectively, while collapsed debris has reached a distance of 4 kilometers from the crater.
A “moderate” amount of sulfur dioxide was also constantly emitted from the Mayon crater, producing a 500-meter-high steam-laden plume that drifted west and west-northwestward.
‘Intensified’ magmatic unrest persists
Phivolcs said Mayon Volcano is still at Alert Level 3 due to the presence of magma at the crater and the possibility of a “hazardous eruption within weeks or even days.” The evacuation of residents within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone is strongly advised because of the risk of PDCs, lava flows, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards. In addition, Phivolcs advised communities to maintain increased vigilance against PDCs, 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. Pilots were also asked to avoid flying close to the volcano because ash from a sudden eruption may pose hazards to aircraft. According to Phivolcs, communities on the southern side of Mayon Volcano may most likely experience ash fall events based on the current wind pattern.