PHIVOLCS issues lahar advisory for Mayon amid Egay

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Friday warned of possible lahar from Mayon Volcano amid the rains brought by Tropical Depression Egay.

That's after the state weather bureau PAGASA said the areas that will be affected by Egay are Samar and Bicol, which are the areas nearest to the weather disturbance.

“Due to this development, communities in pre-determined areas with lahar hazards from Mayon Volcano are strongly recommended to be vigilant and ready,” PHIVOLCS said in a lahar advisory.

PHIVOLCS said lahars and sediment-laden streamflows are possible on all river channels draining the slopes of Mayon Volcano, particularly the following:

Mi-isi

Binaan

Anoling

Quirangay

Maninila

Masarawag

Muladbucad

Nasisi

Mabinit

Matan-ag

Basud

PHIVOLCS advised communities and local government units beside these drainages to be “additionally vigilant” and to move residents to high ground in case of heavy rains.

“The incoming tropical depression is expected to bring about prolonged and heavy rainfall which may generate syn-eruption lahars along major channels draining the Mayon Volcano edifice by incorporating loose material from thick pyroclastic density current (PDC) deposits and ashfall from the ongoing 2023 eruption,” it added.

Mayon lahars can threaten communities along the middle and lower slopes and downstream of Mi-isi, Bonga, and Basud channels with “inundation, burial, and wash away,” according to PHIVOLCS.

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.

On Friday, the LPA east of Southern Luzon intensified into a tropical depression, now called Egay. In an earlier weather update, PAGASA said the areas that will be nearest to the weather disturbance are Samar and Bicol areas. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News