PHIVOLCS: No magma rising from Mayon Volcano after phreatic eruption

There is no magma rising from the Mayon Volcano, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said on Monday.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, PHIVOLCS director Teresito Bacolcol said that since Mayon's eruption on Sunday, there have been no activities monitored over the volcano.

“So far after ng eruption, wala na po. In fact, wala na rin po tayong naitalang volcanic earthquake for the fourth day now since February 1,” Bacolcol said.

(So far after the eruption, no more volcanic activities were observed. In fact, we have not recorded any volcanic earthquake for the fourth day now since February 1.)

“Maganda ito. Ibig sabihin, walang magmang umaangat (This is good. It means no magma is rising), ” Bacolcol added.

At 4:37 p.m. on Sunday, a phreatic eruption was recorded at Mayon Volcano which lasted for 169 seconds, the PHIVOLCS reported.

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

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.

“It is not as violent as magmatic eruption but it can still send ash and rocks sa hangin (in the air),” Bacolcol said.

So far, no ashfall has been reported in the barangays near the volcano, according to Bacolcol.

Alert Level 2 is still up over the Mayon Volcano, which means a moderate level of unrest.

PHIVOLCS advised the public to be vigilant and avoid entering the six-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ).

In case of ash fall events, affected residents are advised to cover their nose and mouth with damp and clean cloth or dust mask. 

Due to the large amounts of volcanic materials deposited by the recent eruption, heavy rainfall could lead to channel-confined lahars and sediment-laden streamflows.

Flying close to the volcano’s summit is prohibited as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft. —KBK, GMA Integrated News