Lava bursts seen at Mayon Volcano —PHIVOLCS

Mayon Volcano in Albay had short-lived lava bursts in the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said in its bulletin issued on Saturday.

One lava burst occurred at 6:36 p.m. on Friday, while the other one was recorded at 12:06 a.m. on Saturday.

"Short-lived lava bursts accompanied by seismic and infrasound signals also occurred at 06:36 PM 20 October 2023 and 12:06 AM 21 October 2023," PHIVOLCS said.

The agency also recorded 31 volcanic earthquakes including 23 tremor events lasting from one minute to 52 minutes.

PHIVOLCS also recorded one pyroclastic density current (PDC) event and 87 rockfall events at Mayon Volcano. Debris from these events were deposited within four kilometers of the crater.

"The lava flows have maintained their advances to approximately 3.4 kilometers in Bonga (southeastern), 2.8 kilometers in Mi-isi (south), and 1.1 kilometers in Basud (eastern) Gullies," PHIVOLCS said.

Meanwhile, an average of 592 tonnes of sulfur dioxide was recorded on October 20.

Moderate plumes rising up to 1,000 meters tall were also seen in the past 24 hours before these drifted south-southwest and west.

PHIVOLCS said Alert Level 3 remains in effect at Mayon Volcano as it continues to show intensified unrest or magmatic unrest.

It reiterated that entry into the six-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone is prohibited.

Flying aircraft close to the volcano is also not allowed.

PHIVOLCS said the volcano poses hazards such as: rockfalls, landslides or avalanches; ballistic fragments; lava flows and lava fountaining; PDCs; moderate-sized explosions; and lahars during heavy and prolonged rainfall. —KG, GMA Integrated News