More lava fountaining and ash explosions recorded in Mayon

State volcanologists said Mayon Volcano exhibited a greater number of small but consecutive lava fountaining and ash explosions.

At past 9 p.m. Thursday, the restive volcano again spewed lava, pyroclastic flow, and caused rockfall. The lava fountain it produced generated an ash plume 1.25 kilometers high, according to a report on Unang Balita on Friday by Saleema Refran.

Its eruption volume has reached 45 million cubic meters, enough volcanic material to fill 18,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

“You will notice parang mga bato lang ‘yung iniitsa niya. Ibig sabihin mayroong pressure sa ilalim pero hindi siya makabuo,” said Paul Alanis, a science research specialist with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

But a period of calm may still mean a large eruption is impending, he said.

“Sa eruptive history ng Mayon Volcano there are instances na medyo nagiging quiet siya prior to a large eruption,” he said. —Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/KG, GMA News