PhilSA: Mayon ash deposit extent for crops about the size of Mandaluyong

The wide swath of agricultural crop lands potentially affected by volcanic ash from restive Mayon Volcano in Albay is about the size of Mandaluyong City, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) said Saturday.

In a statement, PhilSA said the estimated ash deposit extent from Mayon following its pyroclastic density current on May 2 covered at least 1,039 hectares of rice areas and 191 hectares of other crops.

The combined crop area was described as "roughly the size of Mandaluyong City."

Some of the country's largest shopping malls, several skyscrapers in the Ortigas business district, the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club, Don Bosco Technical College, and multiple subdivisions and residential areas in 27 barangays are located in Mandaluyong.

To visually illustrate the extent of ashfall crop exposure, PhilSA created a map showing ash-affected Physical Rice Areas (orange) and other crop areas (yellow).

The large area bordered by red lines shows the estimated ash deposit extent. At least 158 kms of roads are found within the same area, PhilSA added.

The star, meanwhile, marks Mayon Volcano.

"PhilSA analyzes satellite data to provide wide-area coverage that assists NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) in monitoring the situation and prioritizing areas for response," PhilSA said.

The agency advised the public to follow local and national agencies for advisories on Mayon's activity.

Mayon Volcano showed signs of intensified and magmatic unrest on May 2, Saturday, with lava flows and volcanic earthquakes, among others.

Some areas in Albay, such as Camalig and Guinobatan, experienced ashfall following an episode of lava flow collapse-fed pyroclastic density current at the volcano.

Over 50 barangays have been affected by ashfall due to increased volcanic activity at Mayon Volcano, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has said.

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

These included three volcanic tremors that lasted 2 to 4 minutes. — VDV, GMA News