Mayon Volcano at a 'moderate level of unrest' - Philvolcs
Published Dec 28, 2018 04:54 pm
By Alexandria Dennise San Juan
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded at least four volcanic earthquakes around Mayon Volcano in Albay province in the past 24 hours, as it remains to be at a moderate level of unrest.
In the latest bulletin issued by Phivolcs on Friday morning, Mayon Volcano's seismic monitoring network noted four volcanic earthquakes during the 24-hour observation period in which two were related to phreatic eruption events at 8:17 a.m. and 8:28 a.m. Thursday.
Mayon Volcano spewed grayish ash plumes around 8:40 a.m. on December 27, 2018. (SCREENSHOT FROM MB VIDEO / Niño Luces)
These events, Phivolcs said, generated grayish to grayish white ash plume that rose 600 meters and 200 meters above the summit, respectively, before drifting southwest.
Weak to moderate emission of white to grayish steam-laden plumes was also observed most of the day.
According to Phivolcs, Alert Level 2 currently prevails over Mayon Volcano meaning that the country's most active volcano is still at moderate level of unrest.
"Phivolcs reminds the public that sudden explosions, lava collapses, pyroclastic density currents or PDCs (pyroclastic density currents) and ashfall can still occur and threaten areas in the upper to middle slopes of Mayon," the bureau said.
The agency also recommends that entry into the six kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) and a precautionary seven kilometer-radius Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) in the south-southwest to east-northeast sector, stretching from Anoling, Camalig to Sta. Misericordia, Sto. Domingo must be strictly prohibited.
"People residing close to these danger areas are also advised to observe precautions associated with rockfalls, PDCs and ashfall. Active stream/river channels and those identified as perennially lahar-prone areas on all sectors of the volcano should also be avoided especially during extreme weather conditions when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall," Phivolcs warned.
"Civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions and PDCs may pose hazards to aircrafts," it added.
Phivolcs has maintained the alert level status of Mayon to level 2 following its series of full-blown eruption that started January and simmered down in March this year.
Mayon Volcano spewed grayish ash plumes around 8:40 a.m. on December 27, 2018. (SCREENSHOT FROM MB VIDEO / Niño Luces)
These events, Phivolcs said, generated grayish to grayish white ash plume that rose 600 meters and 200 meters above the summit, respectively, before drifting southwest.
Weak to moderate emission of white to grayish steam-laden plumes was also observed most of the day.
According to Phivolcs, Alert Level 2 currently prevails over Mayon Volcano meaning that the country's most active volcano is still at moderate level of unrest.
"Phivolcs reminds the public that sudden explosions, lava collapses, pyroclastic density currents or PDCs (pyroclastic density currents) and ashfall can still occur and threaten areas in the upper to middle slopes of Mayon," the bureau said.
The agency also recommends that entry into the six kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) and a precautionary seven kilometer-radius Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) in the south-southwest to east-northeast sector, stretching from Anoling, Camalig to Sta. Misericordia, Sto. Domingo must be strictly prohibited.
"People residing close to these danger areas are also advised to observe precautions associated with rockfalls, PDCs and ashfall. Active stream/river channels and those identified as perennially lahar-prone areas on all sectors of the volcano should also be avoided especially during extreme weather conditions when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall," Phivolcs warned.
"Civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions and PDCs may pose hazards to aircrafts," it added.
Phivolcs has maintained the alert level status of Mayon to level 2 following its series of full-blown eruption that started January and simmered down in March this year.