Filtered By: Topstories
News

PHIVOLCS: Observation equipment stolen amid increased Mayon activity


The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Thursday said its observation instruments on Mount Mayon were stolen while an increased activity in the volcano was being monitored.

Two solar panels, 150 watts each, were stolen from the DOST-PHIVOLCS Mayon station that hosts instruments for earthquake monitoring, Global Positioning System (GPS) and tiltmeter.

Recently, a crater glow at the Mayon Volcano was observed, which signifies that remnant magma may be quietly rising to the shallow levels of the edifice, according to PHIVOLCS.

“With loss of power supply, no data will be transmitted from this station and consequently will affect the monitoring of Mayon Volcano,” PHIVOLCS said in a statement.

On Wednesday, personnel of Mayon Volcano Observatory discovered that the equipment was missing during their routine inspection and preventive maintenance service.

In 2018, PHIVOLCS had said two of its solar panels in Guinobatan, Albay –which were used in monitoring the activity of Mayon Volcano –were stolen.

PHIVOLCS discovered the theft on May 21, after the agency failed to receive transmission data from the volcano.

Also, it warned that the Risk Reduction and Preparedness Equipment Protection Act of 2012 penalizes such action.

“The public is strongly encouraged to help in taking care of our monitoring instruments and to promptly report any untoward incidents,” it said.

In an 8:00 a.m. bulletin, PHIVOLCS said that Mayon Volcano emitted an average of 115 tons of Sulfur dioxide on January 10.

It also monitored a slight deflation of the edifice, based on the ground deformation data from Precise Leveling surveys obtained on October 23 – 30, 2019 compared to the data from July 16 – 25, 2019

“Continuous GPS data also showed inflation of the edifice since February 2019,” PHIVOLCS said. It added that the volcano remains inflated since early 2019.

“This means that Mayon is at a moderate level of unrest. DOST-PHIVOLCS reminds the public that sudden explosions, lava collapses, pyroclastic density currents or PDCs and ashfall can still occur and threaten areas in the upper to middle slopes of Mayon,” PHIVOLCS said.

Alert Level 2 is still up over Mayon Volcano. —Joviland Rita/LBG, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT