Mayon Volcano’s plumes reach 2,500 meters

The steam-laden plumes from Mayon Volcano grew to 2,500 on Friday from 1,000 on Thursday, according to the latest bulletin from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

The very slow effusion of lava flow from the crater along  Mi-isi gully also extended to 2.23 kilometers from 2.1 kilometers in the past 24 hours, said PHIVOLCS.

Two volcanic earthquakes were recorded over the volcano, which is higher compared to the one volcanic earthquake reported on Thursday.

A total of 284 rockfall events and seven dome-collapse pyroclastic density current events were reported in the volcano, according to PHIVOLCS.

A very slow effusion of lava flow from the crater was also observed along Bonga gully extending up to 1.3 kilometers.

Collapse debris has deposited to 3,300 meters from the crater.

The volcano also had 595 tonnes of sulfur dioxide emission on Thursday.

“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,” PHIVOLCS said.

“It is therefore recommended that the 6-km radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) be evacuated due to the danger of PDCs, lava flows, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards,” it added.

PHIVOLCS also warned that heavy rainfall could generate channel-confined lahars and sediment-laden streamflows in channels where PDC deposits were emplaced.

“Increased vigilance against pyroclastic density currents, lahars, and sediment-laden streamflows along channels draining the edifice is also advised,“ PHIVOLCS said.

It added that pilots should avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.

The plumes, meanwhile, are drifting in the north and northeast directions. Based on the current prevailing wind pattern, PHIVOLCS said ash fall events may most likely occur on the south side of the volcano.

Alert Level 3 in Mayon Volcano was raised on June 8 after three PDC events were observed on the Bonga (southeast) and Basud (east) gullies of the volcano.

A total of 41,517 people or 10,652 families in 26 barangays in Bicol have been affected by Mayon's activity, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Thursday.

Of the affected population, 18,751 individuals or 5,365 families are staying in 28 evacuation centers, while 1,427 individuals or 408 families are taking shelter in other places.

A total of 1,107 livestock animals were also preemptively evacuated.

A state of calamity was declared in 18 cities and municipalities.

Assistance worth P111,927,076 has been provided to the victims, the NDRRMC said. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News