Mayon may not explosively erupt —PHIVOLCS

The lava-spewing Mayon Volcano’s current activity may not lead to an explosive eruption, state volcanologists said, even as they continued to urge alertness among residents that could be affected by the restive landform’s wrath.

According to a report by Emil Sumangil on Unang Balita on Friday, the latest findings of the Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) say they have recorded lava flow, tremors, ground deformations, and monitored gas in the volcano.

The volcano’s current activity may be categorized as a “non-explosive eruption” with a few eruptions similar to that in 2006 and 2009, they reportedly said.

A major eruption can only occur due to excessive pressure as a result of gas volume inside the volcano, PHIVOLCS said.

Their aerial inspection also revealed no “explosive deposits” like pyroclastic flows on some of the volcano’s parts.

However, residents are still warned against mudflow and lahar flow due to rains and are advised not to enter the danger zone around the volcano.

The Office of Civil Defense, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Health have all reportedly said they would help the thousands of residents temporarily displaced by the volcano’s activity.

Alert Level 3 is still up over the Mayon Volcano.

In its 8 a.m. Mayon bulletin on Friday, PHIVOLCS said it has recorded 24 rockfall events and one volcanic earthquake in the past 24 hours. —Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/KG, GMA News