PHIVOLCS: 2 volcanic earthquake, 306 rockfall events recorded in Mayon Volcano

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Thursday said it has recorded two volcanic earthquakes and 306 rockfall events in Mayon Volcano in Albay, which remains under Alert Level 3.

These activities were less than the seven volcanic earthquakes and 309 rockfall events logged the previous day.

The pyroclastic density current events registered in the past 24 hours in the active volcano also went down from seven to three, according to PHIVOLCS. The volcano's edifice remained "inflated," it added.

Mayon Volcano also released 193 tons of sulfur dioxide on Wednesday, June 14. A fair crater glow and "very slow" effusion of lava from the volcano's summit were observed. Plumes 700 meters tall were seen drifting in a northwestward direction.

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. 

OCD assistance

The recent activities of Mayon Volcano have resulted in evacuations involving thousands of individuals residing within the volcano's permanent danger zone radius.

In a statement Thursday, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said it has extended additional assistance to the Albay government by providing 3,200 sacks of rice and other relief items for the affected communities.

Albay Governor Edcel Lagman earlier received the supplies from National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Chairperson and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. and OCD Administrator and NDRRMC Executive Director, Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno.

The OCD previously sent tarpaulin rolls, N95 face masks, family food packs, hygiene kits, pelican cases, portable water filtration unit, and a water filtration truck to Albay to assist the affected areas.

From P9.2 million cost of assistance on Wednesday, the overall worth of assistance provided by OCD is now at P13.6 million.

On Wednesday, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. went to Albay to check the situation of evacuees. He also conducted an aerial inspection of the volcano.

In a situation briefing, Marcos said he finds the measures being implemented by authorities "satisfactory."

"I think that the response that we have put together is satisfactory, that we were able to prepare and we were able to achieve so far 'yung sinasabi ng province na walang casualty," the President said. —KBK, GMA Integrated News