Mayon Volcano emits nearly 3k tonnes of sulfur dioxide

A total of 2,989 tonnes of sulfur dioxide flux were emitted by the Mayon Volcano on Saturday as it remained under Alert Level 3, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Sunday.

PHIVOLCS’ latest bulletin showed that the restive volcano in Albay also had nine volcanic earthquakes, 270 rockfall events, and three pyroclastic density current events over the past 24 hours.

Mayon Volcano also continued to have a “very slow effusion” of lava flow from its crater which reached as far as 2.8 kilometers along the Mi-isi Gully, and 1.4 kilometers along the Bonga Gully.

Lava collapses along the Basud Gully also reached up to 4 kilometers from its crater, said PHIVOLCS.

Alert Level 3 is still in effect in Mayon Volcano due to its intensified unrest or magmatic unrest.

38K people affected

Activities of Mayon Volcano have so far affected a total of 38,377 individuals or 9,867 families in 26 barangays, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Sunday.

Of them, 18,826 people or 5,392 families were staying in 27 evacuation centers in the Bicol Region, while 1,431 people or 409 families were seeking temporary shelters outside of evacuation centers.

NDRRMC said P175.7 million worth of assistance has been provided in the Bicol Region. —KG, GMA Integrated News