Mayon not done spewing out 'significant' magma —PHIVOLCS

All the magma Mt. Mayon has spewed out since erupting can fit 10,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools, and it's far from done.

A report by Saleema Refran in 24 Oras on Friday said that the eruption volume has reached 25 million cubic meters.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) director and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Usec. Renato Solidum Jr. said that there is still a significant amount of magma that could be spewed out by the volcano.

"We have an idea of much. It's only roughly 30 percent, so meaning we still have significant amount within the volcano as it is still inflated," he said.

Seven lava fountains have been recorded by the PHIVOLCS in the last 24 hours.

While the interval between lava fountains remains at four to five hours, the fountains are not as high as before. From a height ranging from 300 to 700 meters high, they are down to about 150 to 500 meters.

The ash plumes, which ranged from three to five kilometers before, are now 150 to 500 meters in height.

But Solidum said that this does not mean the eruption is subsiding, as a strong explosion may still occur.

"We are in the strombolian phase of eruption. But is possible that it can be transformed into a more explosive phase essentially similar to '68, '84, 2000, and 2001 eruptions where the actual explosion would be more powerful than what is being shown right now," he said.

The volcanic activity might continue for a couple more weeks or even a month as magma still continues to build up in Mayon.

Solidum clarified that the explosiveness of Mayon's eruption is not dependent on the volume of lava, rocks, and pyroclastic materials that are still inside the volcano.

"Yung explosivity ng activity is not dependent only on the volume. So marami pang volume na pwedeng ilabas ang tanong ilalabas ba yan dahan-dahan? O ilalabas yang isasabog?" he said.

Mayon erupted on January 13, and is presently still spewing lava and ash.

The restive volcano remains under Alert Level 4, which means a hazardous eruption is possible within days.

Some 80,000 residents have fled their homes in Albay and are staying at 73 evacuation centers in Albay.

More than a thousand are reported to have caught colds, three are suspected to have chickenpox, and one developed mumps. They have been isolated from the rest of the evacuees.

Cases of diarrhea have also been monitored by health offices.

Health officers said that illnesses might be transmitted due to the cramped spaces and close proximity of people. —Jessica Bartolome/JST, GMA News