PHIVOLCS: Mayon Volcano has phreatic eruption

A phreatic eruption was recorded at the Mayon Volcano summit on Sunday at 4:37 p.m., according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

It "lasted 169 seconds based on the seismic record," PHIVOLCS said in an erratum posted on Monday. The agency previously reported the duration of the phreatic eruption as four minutes and 9 seconds.

The phreatic eruption generated a booming sound, rockfall, pyroclastic density currents or PDC and a 1,200 meter-tall plume that drifted to the southwest.

Mayon Volcano remains at Alert Level 2.

A phreatic eruption is a "steam-driven explosion" that happens when magma heats the ground or surface water, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The intense heat can cause water to boil and flash into steam, which results in an explosion of water, steam, rock and ash. It can also often precede, accompany or follow a more traditional volcanic eruption.

On 24 Oras Weekend, PHIVOLCS Director Teresito Bacolcolno said ashfall has not been reported so far.

On Sunday evening, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM) instructing pilots to avoid going near the volcano. — Sherylin Untalan/RF/BM/KG, GMA Integrated News