Lava flow along Mayon Volcano’s Basud Gully reaches 1KM

The lava flow from Mayon Volcano’s eastern slope called “Basud Gully” has advanced to a distance of approximately 1 kilometer from the crater, from the previous 600 meters, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said Wednesday.

Based on PHIVOLCS’ latest bulletin, the slow effusion of lava along the Bonga (southeastern) and Mi-isi (south) Gullies, meanwhile, maintained their distal lengths of 3.4 kilometers and 2.8 kilometers, respectively, in the past 24 hours.

A total of 259 volcanic earthquakes were also recorded in Mayon Volcano, including 91 low-frequency volcanic earthquakes, and 167 tremor events which lasted 1 to 21 minutes long.

The restive volcano in Albay also had 45 rockfall events and four pyroclastic density currents, with lava collapses reaching 4 kilometers from the crater.

Its sulfur dioxide emission also averaged 969 tonnes per day on Monday, August 7.

PHIVOLCS said Alert Level 3 is maintained over Mayon Volcano, meaning it is currently in a “relatively high level of unrest,” and that “hazardous eruption within weeks or even days” could be possible.

Assistance

A total of P269,757,283 worth of assistance has been provided to the Bicol Region amid the activities of Mayon Volcano, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Wednesday.

This was composed of financial aid, family food packs, hygiene kits, modular tents, and sleeping kits, among others.

Over 38,000 individuals or 9,000 families in 26 barangays were affected by the volcanic unrest, the NDRRMC said.

Of them, 18,801 people or 5,371 families were staying in 27 evacuation centers, while 1,453 people or 418 families were in other places outside of evacuation centers, it added. — Giselle Ombay/RSJ, GMA Integrated News