PHIVOLCS logs 34 quakes at Mayon Volcano

Thirty-four volcanic earthquakes, including one tremor event with a one-minute duration, were recorded in the Mayon Volcano over the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said Thursday.

PHIVOLCS’ latest bulletin showed that 144 rockfall events and one pyroclastic density current event also occurred at the active volcano in Albay.

The slow effusion of lava from the volcano’s crater also continued, reaching 3.4 kilometers along the Bonga Gully (southeastern), 2.8 kilometers along Mi-isi Gully (south), and 1.1 kilometers along Basud Gully (eastern).

Collapses of the lava flow margins and of the summit dome likewise also deposited debris still within 4 kilometers from the crater.

A renewed slow effusion of lava was observed at the Mayon Summit Crater on Wednesday at 8:49 p.m.

“This was observed to have advanced lava flow in the Bonga, Mi-isi, and Basud Gullies and to have generated incandescent rockfall within two kilometers from the summit crater,” PHIVOLCS said.

As to sulfur dioxide, Mayon Volcano emitted an average of 875 tonnes per day on Wednesday, September 27.

A moderate emission of plume drifting south was also reported.

Alert Level 3 is currently maintained over Mayon Volcano, which means that it is currently in a “relatively high level of unrest and hazardous eruption within weeks or even days could still be possible,” according to PHIVOLCS. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News