PHIVOLCS spots crater glow at Mayon Volcano

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has observed a crater glow at the Mayon Volcano over the past two days.

According to its bulletin issued at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, PHIVOLCS said magma could be rising at the volcano.

"In the past two days, crater glow has been detected at the summit crater that is likely caused by hot magmatic gases heating the overlying atmosphere," PHIVOLCS said.

"This suggests the possibility that remnant magma may be quietly rising to the shallow levels of the edifice," it added.

Since the end of the magmatic eruption in March 2018, Mayon Volcano has exhibited declining earthquake activity and SO2 emission. However, a slight swelling of inflation of the edifice began in February 2019 based on continuous GPS and electronic monitoring.

These observations indicate that Mayon's recent behavior has been mainly driven by changes occurring within magma already emplaced beneath the edifice rather than by renewed magma intrusion events.

PHIVOLCS said Alert Level 2 remained over Mayon due to a continuous moderate level of unrest.

It recommended that entry into the six kilometer-radius danger zone or the seven kilometer-radius extended danger zone in the south-southwest to east-northeast sector be prohibited.

Individuals residing near the areas were also advised to take precautionary measures against rockfalls, pyroclastic density currents, and ashfall.

It also called on civil aviation authorities to advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano's summit due to airborne ash and ballistic fragments. —Joahna Lei Casilao/NB/KBK, GMA News