Mayon Volcano logged 206 rockfalls, 63 PDCs in past 24 hours

More rockfall incidents and pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) have been observed in Mayon Volcano in the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said Tuesday. 

From 12 a.m. on Monday to 12 a.m. on Tuesday, a total of 206 rockfall events have been recorded, which is higher compared to the 133 from Monday’s report. 

A total of 63 PDCs were also recorded, which is also higher than the 37 reported on Monday. 

PDCs are mixtures of fragmented volcanic particles (pyroclastics), hot gases, and ashes that rush down the volcanic slopes or rapidly outward from a source vent at high speeds, PHIVOLCS said.

Mayon Volcano emitted 526 tonnes of sulfur dioxide gases on January 11, according to PHIVOLCS. 

A moderate plume rose up to 1,000 meters above the crater of the volcano and drifted west-southwest and southwest. 

A fair crater glow on the volcano was also visible to the naked eye and the volcano’s edifice was still inflated, according to PHIVOLCS.

Under Alert Level 3, the volcano shows an intensified unrest or magmatic unrest.

Authorities strictly prohibit entry into the six-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ) and warn against unnecessary activity in the extended danger zone (EDZ).

Flying any aircraft close to the volcano is also prohibited due to potential ash and ballistic hazards.

Mayon could generate rockfalls or landslides or avalanches; ballistic fragments; lava flows and lava fountaining; pyroclastic density currents; moderate-sized explosions; and lahars during heavy and prolonged rainfall.

A total of 4,141 people or 1,131 families in Albay were affected by Mayon Volcano's activity, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Monday.

Of the total affected population, 4,092 people or 1,116 families were staying in evacuation centers while 48 individuals or 15 families were taking shelter in other places.

Assistance worth P8,649,622 has been provided to the victims so far, according to the NDRRMC.

Some of the evacuees are getting sick, according to Governor Noel Rosal. 

“Hindi naman ganoon karami. Alam mo naman ang panahon ngayon, umuulan, umiinit. May mga bata pero mga ilan-ilan lang. Pero under control naman natin,” he told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita in an interview. 

(Not that many. You know the weather right now, it's raining, then it's hot. There are affected children but only a few. But we have it under control.)

The provincial government is also preparing in case the alert level status over Mayon Volcano is raised to 4.

“Iyan ang talagang challenge sa atin because pag sinabi mong Alert Level 4 and eventually mag-5 na iyan. Halimbawa man, you're talking about 50,000 to 70,000 individuals. Iyan ang mabigat. 'Yan ang pinaghahandaan natin, lalo na ang paglikas nyan,” Rosal said. 

(That's the real challenge for us because when you say Alert Level 4 and eventually it goes to 5. For example, you're talking about 50,000 to 70,000 individuals. That's a lot. That's what we're preparing for, especially the evacuation.)

“Siyempre tataasan natin ang numero ng mga evacuation centers at 'yung ating mga pagkain dapat ihanda natin kasi hindi natin alam kung ilang araw o ilang linggo o buwan itong ating binabantayan na activity ng Mayon,” he added.

(Of course, we will increase the number of evacuation centers and we must prepare our food because we do not know how many days, weeks, or months this Mayon activity we are monitoring will last.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News