7 volcanic quakes, 309 rockfall events recorded in Mayon Volcano —PHIVOLCS

Activities in the Mayon Volcano in Albay rose again, recording seven volcanic earthquakes and 309 rockfall events in the past 24 hours, data by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) showed Wednesday.

These activities numbered were more than the one volcanic earthquake and 221 rockfall events logged on Tuesday.

The pyroclastic density current events recently registered in the active volcano also went up from one to seven.

PHIVOLCS director Teresito Bacolcol said that fewer activities were recorded in Mayon Volcano on Tuesday as compared to Monday, but stressed that it did not signify that the volcano has already calmed down.

A fair crater glow on Mayon Volcano remained visible to the naked eye on Wednesday, exhibiting a very slow effusion of lava from the summit crater.

It also had a weak emission of plume which drifted generally east, and generated 149 tonnes of sulfur dioxide on Tuesday.

There were 13,811 individuals or 3,876 families in 21 barangays in the Bicol Region affected by the Mayon Volcano’s activities, based on a report by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Tuesday.

PHIVOLCS reminded the public that entry into the six-kilometer radius of Mayon Volcano’s Permanent Danger Zone is not allowed.

Flying any aircraft close to the volcano is likewise prohibited.

Hazards such as rockfalls, landslides, avalanches, ballistic fragments, lava flows and lava fountaining, pyroclastic density currents, moderate-sized explosions, and lahars during heavy and prolonged rainfall may also occur.

Mayon Volcano is currently under Alert Level 3 due to its “intensified unrest” or magmatic unrest. —Giselle Ombay/KG, GMA Integrated News