Mayon Volcano had 27 volcanic earthquakes, Alert Level 3 remains —PHIVOLCS

Mayon Volcano in Albay had 27 volcanic earthquakes from 12 a.m. Friday to 12 a.m. Saturday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said Saturday.

The volcanic earthquakes included three volcanic tremors that lasted 2-4 minutes long, PHIVOLCS said in its bulletin.

Meanwhile, 318 rockfalls and two pyroclastic density current (PDC) signals were also observed Friday.

One PDC occurred along Bonga Gully at 2:28 p.m. and traveled until the 3-kilometer radius that was captured by the Mayon Volcano Observatory.

The volcano, which is under Alert Level 3 (Intensified Unrest/Magmatic Unrest), continued to have lava effusion. Lava flowed down the Basud (3.8 km), Bonga (3.2 km), and Mi-isi (1.3 km) gullies.

PHIVOLCS said there were alsso episodic minor strombolian activity and short-lived lava fountaining.

A crater glow could be seen fairly with the naked eye.

On Friday, Mayon Volcano emitted 2,785 tonnes of sulfur dioxide.

Moderate plumes rose up to 200 meters above the crater before drifting in the west and west-southwest directions.

PHIVOLCS reiterated that Mayon Volcano poses possible hazards such as:

• 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.

It said entry into the six-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) should not be allowed.

Likewise, flying aircraft close to the volcano should be prohibited, PHIVOLCS added.

Meanwhile, local officials said Friday that with Mi-isi Gully filled with volcanic debris, it was now uncertain where lahar would flow in the event of continuous and heavy rain.

With the filled-up gully, the lahar will look for new channels and may reach areas beyond the permanent danger zone.

“May gully doon na napakalalim. Siguro ‘yung lalim noon 50 to 100 meters. Napuno lang ng debris,” said Daraga Albay Mayor Victor Perete.

(There is a very deep gully there, probably 50 to 100 meters deep, but it's now filled with debris.) —KG, GMA News