ACTING UP ANEW (AP) – Mayon volcano spews grayish ash for the second time in a day Wednesday. Chief state volcanologist Renato Solidum advised nearby residents to be ready to move to safety in case of eruption.

Mayon Volcano rumbled and spewed ash a kilometer into the air Wednesday morning but the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said there is no need to raise the alert level.

However, Phivolcs advised communities near the restive volcano in Legazpi City, Albay, to be prepared to evacuate when needed.

Meanwhile, an earthquake measuring 4.8 in the Richter scale shook Agusan del Norte early morning Wednesday with no reports of injury or damage as a result of the quake.

Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum it was the first time that rumbling sounds were heard from Mayon as it spewed ash.

“There were two other explosions last Sept. 15 and Oct. 28 but these were not accompanied by rumbling. But the rumbling sound is common for an abnormal volcano,” Solidum said.

Solidum advised residents in areas affected by ash fall from the volcano to stay indoors or cover their nose with clean wet cloth or to wear a dust mask when outside their homes.

He said that Mayon’s latest activities were more powerful than earlier explosions but these still fall within Alert Level 2.

Alert Level 3 is only raised when a volcano shows “an increased tendency towards eruption, with relatively high unrest,” he said.

Wednesday’s ash explosion occurred at 1:58 a.m. at the summit crater of the volcano.

“This event was recorded by the seismic network as explosion type earthquake which lasted for about three minutes and accompanied by rumbling sounds,” Phivolcs said in an advisory.

Phivolcs said that incandescent rock fragments at the upper slope were observed Barangay Lidong of Sto. Domingo, and Barangays Tumpa and Anoling of Camalig in Albay.

“Ash column was not observed due to cloud cover. Field investigation conducted after the event showed ash fall drifted towards the southwest quadrant of the volcano due to the prevailing northeast monsoon,” the Phivolcs said.

Villages affected by traces of ashfall were Tumpa in Camalig; Travesia, Maipon, Masarawag, Doña Tumasa, Muladbukad Grande, and Pequeño in Guinobatan; and Nabonton and Nasisi in Ligao.

Light ash fall was also noted in San Rafael, Guinobatan.

Phivolcs said it also recorded 20 volcanic earthquakes for the past 24 hours from the Mt. Mayon which has been on Alert Level 2 status since July this year.

Alert Level 2 defines a state of unrest which could lead to more ash explosion or eventually to hazardous magmatic eruption.

Under an Alert Level 2, Phivolcs strongly recommends that an off-limits zone is maintained that includes the six-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) around Mayon and the seven-km Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) on the southeast flank of the volcano because of the sudden explosions and rock falls.

“Active river channels and those areas perennially identified as lahar prone in the southeast sector should also be avoided especially during bad weather condition or when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall,” Phivolcs said.

Meanwhile, Phivolcs said that the earthquake that struck Agusan del Norte at 6:28 a.m. Wednesday was tectonic in origin.

It was felt at Intensity III in Butuan City, Surigao City, and Basilisa, Dinagat Islands.

Phivolcs said the epicenter of the earthquake was located some 40 kilometers (kms) northwest of Butuan City with a shallow focal depth of 1 km.

No damage or aftershocks were recorded from the tremor.

Northeastern Mindanao Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Blanche T. Gobenciong mobilized its personnel in Butuan City and Surigao City to monitor the effects of the early morning tremor.

“Still no reported casualty or damage as of this posting,” said Gobenciong.

(With a report from Mike U. Crismundo)