MANILA, Philippines – Alert Level 3 is maintained over Mayon Volcano in Albay, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) announced on Monday, June 19.
This means that the volcano is currently in a relatively high level of unrest as magma is at the crater and "hazardous eruption within weeks or even days is possible."
In the past 24-hour period, very slow effusion of lava from the summit crater of Mayon Volcano continued to feed lava flows and collapse debris on the Mi-isi (south) and Bonga (southeastern) gullies. The agency recorded five (5) dome-collapse pyroclastic density currents (PDC) that lasted three (3) minutes and two hundred sixty five (265) rockfall events.
| View of Mayon Volcano from Rawis, Legazpi City on Monday, June 19. Screenshot from live video of Joey Salceda, Representative of Albay's 2nd District |
The Albay volcano also emitted 889 tons of sulfur dioxide in a day on June 18.
Phivolcs recommended that the 6-km radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) be evacuated due to the danger of pyroclastic density currents (PDC), lava flows, rockfalls and other volcanic hazards.
"Heavy rainfall could generate channel-confined lahars and sediment-laden streamflows in channels where PDC deposits were emplaced," the the state seismology office added.
"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. Based on the current prevailing wind pattern, ash fall events may most likely occur on the south side of the volcano," the statement reads.
PROLONGED UNREST
Volcanologists have said that the Mayon Volcano could continue rumbling for several months.
Mayon, about 330 kilometers southeast of Manila, is considered one of the most volatile of the country's 24 active volcanoes.
Earthquakes and volcanic activity are common in the Philippines due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where tectonic plates collide.
Mount Mayon last violently erupted in 2018, displacing thousands of villagers and coating nearby towns in thick layers of ash.
— The Summit Express
