Mayon volcanic quakes, rockfall events slightly up —PHIVOLCS

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Friday said it has recorded four volcanic earthquakes and 307 rockfall events in Mayon Volcano in Albay in the last 24 hours.

In its latest bulletin, PHIVOLCS said it has also recorded 13 dome-collapse pyroclastic density currents (PDC) from 5 a.m. on Thursday to 5 a.m. on Friday.

"[The] PDCs lasted two (2) to six (6) minutes and were emplaced on the Mi-isi and Bonga Gullies within one (1) kilometer of the crater," it said.

PHIVOLCS added that sulfur dioxide emission averaged 826 tons/day on Thursday.

In its previous bulletin, PHIVOLCS said it has recorded two volcanic earthquakes, 306 rockfall and three PDCs in Mayon Volcano, which remains under Alert Level 3, signifying "relatively high level of unrest."

"Alert Level 3 is maintained over Mayon Volcano, which means that it is currently in a relatively high level of unrest as magma is at the crater and hazardous eruption within weeks or even days is possible," PHIVOLCS said. 

"It is therefore recommended that the 6-km radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) be evacuated due to the danger of PDCs, lava flows, rockfalls and other volcanic hazards," it added.

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

In an interview on Unang Balita on Friday, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) spokesman Bernardo Alejandro IV said 18,584 residents are staying in 27 evacuation centers, while several others are staying with relatives.

He also said 26 barangays are now directly affected by Mayon’s activities.  —KBK, GMA Integrated News