PHIVOLCS studying lowering Mayon Volcano’s alert level

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) is considering the possibility of lowering the alert level raised over the restive Mayon Volcano in Albay.

An Unang Balita report said this is due to the decreasing restiveness of the volcano in the past few days.

Ed Laguerta, PHIVOLCS resident volcanologist in Bicol, said the physical aspect of the volcano has become "very quiet."

However, Laguerta said their seismic intruments still detect abnormalities from within the volcano.

"Kaya araw-araw na pagmamasid at pagtingin [ang ginagawa namin]. Kasi ang tinitingnan natin ang ilalim ng bulkan," he added.

Alert Level 4 remains raised over the volcano. The highest alert level is 5.

In its 8 a.m. bulletin, PHIVOLCS said that it detected sporadic and weak lava fountaining, lava flor and degassing from the summit from 8 a.m. Tuesday.

It said it also observed a lava fountaining event that lasted for six to 15 minutes until 1:18 a.m.

The lava fountains generated dirty white ash plumes that rose 500 meters from the summit.

PHIVOLCS added that lava flow deposits in the Miis, Bonga and Basud Gullies have reached 3.3 kilometers, 4.5 kilometers and 900 meters, respectively. Pyroclastic density currents, meanwhile, have reached 4.6 kilometers, 5.2 kilometers and 4.2 kilometers of the three gullies, respectively.

The agency also recorded 183 volcanic earthquakes that corresponded the recharge of magma beneath the volcano and lava fountaining events. —ALG, GMA News