Mayon Volcano logs 340 rockfall events in past 24 hrs — PHIVOLCS

A total of 340 rockfall events were recorded at Mayon Volcano from midnight Monday, January 19, to midnight Tuesday, January 20, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said.

“Ito yung pinakamaraming rockfall since we raised the alert level from 2 to 3,” PHIVOLCS Director Teresito Bacolcol said in an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

(This is the highest number of rockfall events since we raised the alert level from 2 to 3.)

Latest PHIVOLCS data also showed 45 pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) and 13 volcanic earthquakes recorded during the same period.

“So ibig sabihin nito mataas pa rin ang activity ng bulkan. Tuloy-tuloy ang dome lava activity kaya tuloy din ang rockfalls at saka yung pagbagsak ng mga PDCs,” Bacolcol added.

(This means the volcano’s activity remains high. The dome lava activity is continuous, which is why rockfalls and PDCs continue to occur.)

Despite the increased activity, PHIVOLCS said the overall condition of Mayon Volcano does not indicate an imminent escalation to Alert Level 4.

“But if you look at the overall parameters—seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and surface activity—nasa loob pa rin ito ng inaasahang conditions sa Alert Level 3,” Bacolcol said.

(It is still within the expected conditions for Alert Level 3.)

Under Alert Level 3, volcanic earthquakes and tremors are more frequent. Entry into the six-kilometer permanent danger zone and flying near the volcano remain strictly prohibited.—MCG, GMA Integrated News