Mayon Volcano lava flows, rockfall events, volcanic earthquakes continue

The Mayon Volcano in Albay continued to show unrest over the past 24-hour period, registering lava flows, rockfall events, pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) and volcanic earthquakes, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said on Saturday.

"In the past 24-hour period, very slow effusion of lava from the summit crater of Mayon Volcano continued to feed lava flows and collapse debris on the Mi-isi (south) and Bonga (southeastern) gullies as well as rockfall and PDCs on these and the Basud (eastern) Gullies," PHIVOLCS said in a bulletin.

The lava flows have reached approximately 2,800 meters along the Mi-isi gully and 1,300 meters along the Bonga gully from the summit crater.

The collapse debris meanwhile were deposited 4,000 meters from the crater, PHIVOLCS added.

"One (1) lava collapse pyroclastic density current (PDC) that generated a 300 meter-high light-brown ash cloud, three hundred three (303) rockfall events and eight (8) volcanic earthquakes were recorded by the Mayon Volcano Network," it added.

The continuous weak repetitive pulse tremor that have been recorded since Tuesday, July 4, at 3:47 p.m. ceased on Friday, July 7 at approximately 12 p.m., PHIVOLCS said.

Meanwhile, steam-laden plumes rising to 1,000 meters from the summit crater were observed as the volcano continued its moderate degassing. The plumes drifted generally west.

On Friday, the sulfur dioxide emission was measured at an average of 792 tonnes for the day.

PHIVOLCS said Alert Level 3 remains in effect over Mayon Volcano, meaning "it is currently in a relatively high level of unrest and hazardous eruption within weeks or even days could still be possible."

The agency reiterated that the six-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) remain evacuated as this area may be affected by possible PDCs, lava flows, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards.

It also reminded the public to be vigilant against PDCs, lahars, and sediment-laden streamflows along channels draining the edifice.

Lahars and sediment-laden streamflows may be generated by heavy rainfall, it added.

PHIVOLCS also said that flying close to the volcano's summit is hazardous due to ash from any sudden eruption.

"Based on the current prevailing wind pattern, ash fall events may most likely occur on the south side of the volcano," it added. —KG, GMA Integrated News