Mayon Volcano emits 1-km-high, steam-laden plumes
Published Jul 8, 2023 02:12 am
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has observed one-kilometer-high steam-laden plumes from Mayon Volcano, caused by the volcano’s continuous sulfur dioxide emissions.
“Continuous moderate degassing from the summit crater produced steam-laden plumes that rose 1,000 meters before drifting to the general west,” Phivolcs said in its bulletin issued on Saturday, July 8.
However, Phivolcs’ monitoring showed that the sulfur dioxide emission was lower at 792 tons on July 7, down from 973 tons on July 6.
In the past 24 hours, it said the “very slow” effusion of lava from Mayon Volcano’s crater has continued to feed lava flows and collapse debris on the Mi-isi and Bonga gullies on the southern and southeastern flanks of the volcano, respectively.
Rockfall and pyroclastic density current (PDC) occurrences were also observed in the Mi-isi and Bonga gullies, as well as in Basud Gully on the eastern flank of the volcano.
Lava flows have progressed by about 2.8 kilometers and 1.3 kilometers, respectively, along the Mi-isi and Bonga gullies, while collapsed debris has advanced by 4 kilometers along the Basud Gully.
Moreover, one lava collapse-triggered PDC, which generated a 300 meter-high light-brown ash cloud, 303 rockfall events, and eight volcanic earthquakes were recorded by the Mayon Volcano Network.
Meanwhile, Phivolcs said the continuous, weak, and repetitive pulse tremor that began at 3:47 p.m. om July 4 has ceased at 12 p.m. on July 7.
Superheated degassing plume from Mayon crater’s intense emissivity was captured by an infrared camera of the Bical, Sto. Domingo Station in Albay province on June 28, 2023. (Phivolcs)
Superheated degassing plume from Mayon crater’s intense emissivity was captured by an infrared camera of the Bical, Sto. Domingo Station in Albay province on June 28, 2023. (Phivolcs)
Public urged to maintain ‘increased’ vigilance
According to Phivolcs, Mayon Volcano’s current activity still shows an “increased tendency toward hazardous eruption,” and as such, Alert Level 3 is maintained. There is still the possibility of a “hazardous eruption within weeks or even days” because of the presence of magma at the crater, Phivolcs said. It 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. Phivolcs has strongly advised the evacuation of the six-kilometer permanent danger zone. 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. Mayon Volcano’s status has been upgraded twice in the past month, first to level 2 on June 5 and then to level 3 on June 8.