PHIVOLCS: Mayon Volcano exhibits ‘increased seismic activity, ground deformation’

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Monday said it observed increased seismic activity and ground deformation at the restive Mayon Volcano.

In an advisory, PHIVOLCS said it recorded a total of 100 volcanic earthquakes as of 3 p.m. This is slightly lower than the 102 monitored during a 24-hour interval between June 25 and 26 but consistent with the increasingly weak and shallow tremors PHIVOLCS reported in the Mayon Volcano’s network beginning Saturday, June 24.

“Some of the analyzed earthquakes that could be located emanated from the summit lava dome, indicating origins from lava extrusion processes at the crater. The increased seismicity was accompanied by a noticeable sharp jump in ground tilt on the southwest sector of the edifice that began on June 25, 2023,” the agency said.

“As of present, steady-rate lava effusion from the summit crater and sporadic generation of rockfall and pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) still persist,” it said.

Mayon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3, with around 41,483 people or 10,642 families affected by its activities, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

MAYON VOLCANO ADVISORY
26 June 2023
04:00 PM

This is a notice of increased seismic activity and ground deformation in Mayon Volcano.#MayonVolcanohttps://t.co/q3u3lnJ0Bd pic.twitter.com/gaC5qnOBEa

— PHIVOLCS-DOST (@phivolcs_dost) June 26, 2023

Of the figures, at least 18,706 persons, or 5,354 families were staying in 28 evacuation centers, while 1,428 individuals, or 408 families were in other places.

PHIVOLCS advised residents living inside the 6-kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) to be evacuated while those within the 7- and 8-kilometer radius must always be prepared.

Civil aviation authorities should also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from eruptions can be hazardous to aircraft, it added. — BM, GMA Integrated News