PHIVOLCS catches crater glow on Mayon Volcano amid Alert Level 3

A crater glow was observed at Mayon Volcano on Friday evening, a day after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised its alert status to level 3.

The agency shared a photo of the crater glow around the volcano’s summit lava dome taken at around 7 p.m. 

No volcanic earthquakes and 28 smaller rockfall events were monitored in Mayon Volcano’s network as of 5.am., Phivolcs added.

“Photo of the Mayon Volcano crater at around 7:00 PM tonight, 9 June 2023, exhibiting crater glow or ‘banaag’ around its summit lava dome," the agency said.

"Twenty-eight relatively smaller rockfall events and zero volcanic earthquakes have been detected by the Mayon Volcano Network since 5:00 AM today,” it added.

PHIVOLCS on Thursday raised the alert level in the active volcano in Albay, signifying an "increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption”.

It also said the repeated collapse of the volcano's growing summit dome has generated an increasing number and volume of rockfall events since the alert level was raised from 1 to 2 on Monday.

Due to the danger of pyroclastic density currents, lava flows, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards, the agency has recommended evacuation from the six-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ).

Increased vigilance against pyroclastic density currents, lahars, and sediment-laden streamflows along channels draining the edifice is also advised, it added.

Ash fall events may occur most likely on the south side of Mayon considering the current prevailing wind pattern.

Pilots, meanwhile, have been prohibited from flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.

Meanwhile, PHIVOLCS maintained its warning of possible sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions from Kanlaon Volcano amid its low-level unrest.

In its latest monitoring bulletin, PHIVOLCS said three volcanic earthquakes were monitored from the active volcano from Negros Island.

It emitted 1089 tonnes of sulfur dioxide per day based on the most recent measurement on June 5.

The volcano did not emit any plume but its edifice was inflated.

Kanlaon Volcano has been under Alert Level 1 since March 2020 due to “low-level unrest”.

With the alert status, PHIVOLCS said entry into the four-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone is prohibited.

It likewise advised civil aviation authorities and pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano.

On Tuesday, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines prohibited flights from operating 10,000 feet from the surface of the volcano. —NB, GMA Integrated News