Mayon Volcano's 'increased' lava effusion eases
Published Aug 2, 2023 01:52 am
The “increased” effusion of lava from Mayon Volcano has eased over the past 24 hours and is returning to a slow rate, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on Wednesday, Aug. 2.
On July 31, Phivolcs observed an intermittent “ashing” along with increases in the apparent rates of lava effusion from the summit crater of Mayon Volcano.
“In the past 24-hour period, eruptive activity from Mayon Volcano eased back into slow effusion of lava from the summit crater that fed lava flows on the Bonga (southeastern), Mi-isi (south), and Basud (eastern) gullies,” it said in a bulletin issued at 8 a.m., Wednesday.
The distances between the lava flows and the crater have remained at about 3.4 km, 2.8 km, and 600 meters, respectively.
The lava effusion from the summit crater of the Mayon Volcano continued for the eighth consecutive week, on July 31, 2023, feeding rockfall and lava flows in the Mi-isi, Bonga, and Basud gullies. (Screengrab from Phivolcs / Facebook)
Meanwhile, rockfall and pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) caused by the summit dome and lava flow margin collapses left debris four kilometers from the crater. “In total, 57 low frequency volcanic earthquakes or LFVQs, five PDCs, and 225 rockfall events, as well as four ashing events, were recorded by the Mayon Volcano Network,” Phivolcs said.
The lava effusion from the summit crater of the Mayon Volcano continued for the eighth consecutive week, on July 31, 2023, feeding rockfall and lava flows in the Mi-isi, Bonga, and Basud gullies. (Screengrab from Phivolcs / Facebook)
Meanwhile, rockfall and pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) caused by the summit dome and lava flow margin collapses left debris four kilometers from the crater. “In total, 57 low frequency volcanic earthquakes or LFVQs, five PDCs, and 225 rockfall events, as well as four ashing events, were recorded by the Mayon Volcano Network,” Phivolcs said.
Alert Level 3 stays
The Mayon Volcano is still on Alert Level 3, which means that a hazardous eruption is still possible 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 June, 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.