Mayon’s unrest comparable to 2023 eruption – PHIVOLCS

The present unrest of Mayon Volcano can be compared to its eruption in 2023, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said Tuesday.

“Sa ngayon, ine-emphasize na natin na ang likely scenario ay tulad nung 2023, mayroon tsansa na medyo mas malakas nang kaunti. Siguro yung isang scenario na  hindi natin na-emphasize, pwede rin tumigil ‘yung eruption anytime,” said PHIVOLCS Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division chief Antonia Bornas in a press briefing. 

(For now, we are emphasizing that the likely scenario is similar to what happened in 2023, with a chance that it could be slightly stronger. One scenario that we perhaps haven't emphasized enough is that the unrest could also stop at any time.)

Alert Level 3 was raised over Mayon Volcano in Albay after pyroclastic density currents (PDC) or “uson” were recorded.

PHIVOLCS said an Alert Level 3 means “increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption.” 

For his part, PHIVOLCS director Teresito Bacolcol said the eruption in 2023 and current state of Mayon have the same conditions: increasing rockfall events within days, followed by PDCs. 

“If this will follow the 2023 template, this will take five to six months,” he told GMA News Online in a text message.

PHIVOLCS earlier said that Mayon is “exhibiting  magmatic eruption of a summit lava dome, with increased chances of lava flows and hazardous PDCs or uson affecting the upper to middle slopes of the volcano and of potential explosive activity within days or weeks.” 

Under Alert Level 3, evacuation is recommended in the 6-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) due to the danger of PDCs, lava flows, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards. 

The Camalig, Alabay local government announced that it will evacuate its residents within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

Further, flying of aircraft close to the volcano’s summit is also prohibited, PHIVOLCS said. — RF, GMA Integrated News