Mayon’s lava fountaining activity intensifies; 152 episodes in 2 days

Mayon Volcano's lava fountaining activity has intensified with a total of 152 recorded events since Monday.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) also reported that of the number, a total of 78 successive lava fountaining events were recorded from 8 a.m. Tuesday to 8 a.m. Wednesday.

These events were accompanied by a total of 83 volcanic earthquakes.

PHIVOLCS also said continuous lava flow and degassing from the summit crater were also monitored.

It also reported that discrete episodes or eruptions that lasted for 41 minutes and accompanied by rumlbing sounds, audible within 10 kilometers from the summit crater, were also recorded by its seismic network.

The agency said persistent steam-laden plumes that rose up to 2.5 kilometers from the summit was also recorded. The ash plume drifted east and northeast of the volcano.

It also said that throughout Tuesday night, lava flows and consequent incandescent rockfalls were observed in the Miisi and Bonga-Buyuan channels. 

Lava belched by the volcano has advanced to 3.3 kilometers and 4.5 kilometers down the Missi and Bonga-Buyuan channels, respectively, while pyroclastic density currents locally called "uson" have also advanced 4.6 kilometers in the Miisi gully, 4.4 kilometers in Bonga gully and 4.2 kilometers in the Basud gully.

Meanwhile, the volcano's sulfur dioxide gas emission remained high at an average of 1,885 tonnes per day.

Alert Level 4 remains hoisted over Mayon Volcano, which means there is a possibility of a hazardous eruption.

Authorities are barring people from reentering the eight-kilometer extended danger zone.

At least 70,000 residents of Albay province have been displaced since the volcano's initial eruption on January 13.

Combined local and national government standby relief fund of P160 million for the displaced residents. —ALG, GMA News