Mayon Volcano lava flows, volcanic quakes continue; residents evacuate

Mayon Volcano in Albay continued to show signs of intensified and magmatic unrest on Saturday, with lava flows and volcanic earthquakes, among others, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said Sunday.

The volcano had lava effusion with flows down the Basud Gully (3.8 km), Bonga Gully (3.2 km), and Mi-isi Gully (1.6 km), it said in its bulletin. 

There were minor strombolian activity and short-lived lava fountaining. A crater glow remains fairly visible to the naked eye.

Thirty-two volcanic earthquakes were also recorded on Saturday, including 25 volcanic tremors lasting from two to 15 minutes long).

A total of 284 rockfall events and 14 pyroclastic density currents (PDC) signals were also observed Saturday.

Successive PDCs were likewise observed along Mi-isi Gully within the Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ).

Ash fell over the southwestern slopes of the volcano. 

Moderate plumes were observed being emitted by the volcano. These drifted in the west-northwest drift.

Alert Level 3 (Intensified Unrest/Magmatic Unrest) remains in effect on Sunday, PHIVOLCS said.

It also said the six-kilometer radius PDZ should remain off-limits.

Flying aircraft close to the volcano should be prohibited, PHIVOLCS said.

Mayon Volcano poses possible hazards as follows, it added:

• rockfalls or landslides or avalanches;
• ballistic fragments;
• lava flows and lava fountaining;
• PDCs;
• moderate-sized explosions; and 
• lahars during heavy and prolonged rainfall.

Ashfall

Some areas in Albay, such as Camalig and Guinobatan, also experienced ashfall on Saturday following an episode of lava flow collapse-fed pyroclastic density current that took place at the volcano around 5:38 p.m.

A total of 52 barangays have been affected by ashfall due to increased volcanic activity at Mayon Volcano, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said on Saturday.

"'Yung ashfall is papunta sa 3rd District. Naapektuhan ang ilang bayan sa 3rd District katulad ng Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao City and other areas," Bobby Cristobal, head of Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO), said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday morning.

Cristobal said some residents evacuated amid fears for their safety. Those in the 6-km PDZ are in evacuation centers, he said.

"Dito sa Camalig, may mga natakot kaya lumikas... Existing ang ating mga evacuation center. Dahil active ang Mayon, lahat ng nasa 6-km Permanent Danger Zone, nasa evacuation center na sila," Cristobal said.

"Kagabi, since medyo makapal at mataas ang clouds na [nilikha] ng ash, marami ring natakot na residente at lumikas. Dito reported 'yun sa bayan ng Camalig," he said.

The ash clouds have since dissipated, he added.

"Humupa na ang ash clouds. Medyo bumalik na rin ang seismic amplitude count ng Mayon," Cristobal said, adding that PHIVOLCS did not recommend raising the alert level to 4.

"Kailangan i-monitor muna for the next few days kung magbabago ba 'yung behavior ng Mayon," he said.

Cristobal said evacuees want to go back to their houses but due to the increased volcanic activity of Mayon, this could not be allowed yet.

"Talagang 'yung sentimyento ng evacuees... talagang may discomfort na silang nararamdaman sa evacuation centers...  Some are really wanting to go back to their houses, pero hindi pwedeng i-allow 'yun hangga't hindi bumababa ang alert level...," he said. —KG, GMA News