MANILA, February 5 ------ Authorities in Albay are on alert after Mayon Volcano spewed white smoke Sunday afternoon. Albay Gov. Grex Lagman said that according to the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office, the initial incident should not cause any concern at the moment. "I have talked with our APSEMO head Dr. Cedric Daep. He reported to me that it's just white steam. No cause for concern. Same assessment by Phivolcs," he said.
Phivolcs later reported that a phreatic eruption from the Mayon Volcano summit occurred at 4:40 p.m. and lasted four minutes and nine seconds, based on the seismic record. "The event generated a booming sound, rockfall, pyroclastic density currents or PDC and a 1,200 meter-tall plume that drifted to the southwest," the agency added.
Phivolcs resident volcanologist Dr. Paul Alanis said there is a possibility of ashfall in the towns of Daraga, Albay, Camalig and Guinobatan. Mayon is currently on Alert Level 2 and this occurrence should be expected, Phivolcs added.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com