By Chito Chavez The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Mayon Volcano has exhibited sporadic and weak lava fountaining, lava flow and degassing from the summit crater in the past 24 hours. Mayon volcano (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez / MANILA BULLETIN) State volcanologists said discrete episodes of lava fountaining lasted from four to 20 minutes as incandescent lava fountains 150 meters tall generated steam-laden plumes that rose up to 400 meters from the summit before drifting northwest and west-northwest. During the period, Phivolcs noted lava flows and consequent incandescent rockfalls were observed in the Miisi and Bonga-Buyuan channels. Phivolcs added that effused volumes of incandescent lava flows have advanced to 3.3 kilometers, 4.5 kilometers and 900 meters down the Miisi, Bonga and Basud Gullies, respectively, from the summit crater. Pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) have deposited to the 4.6, 4.5 and 4.2 kilometer reaches of the Miisi, Bonga and Basud Gullies, respectively. Phivolcs said Mayon’s seismic monitoring network has also recorded 92 volcanic earthquakes, most of which corresponded to lava fountaining events. Electronic tilt and continuous GPS still record sustained swelling or inflation of the edifice since November and October 2017, consistent with pressurization by magmatic intrusion. Phivolcs noted that Alert Level 4 remains in effect over Mayon Volcano. With this condition, Phivolcs warned the people to be vigilant and desist from entering the eight kilometer-radius danger zone and to be on guard vigilant against pyroclastic density currents, lahars and sediment-laden stream flows along channels draining the edifice. Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft. Phivolcs has maintained close monitoring of the activities at Mayon Volcano.