Mayon Volcano alert status raised to Level 3

October 31 ------ The alert status of Mayon Volcano in Albay has been raised from Level 2 to Level 3 as it enters “a new phase of magmatic eruption,” the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

The volcano had a moderately explosive eruption that began at 11:53 a.m. and ended at 11:59 a.m. yesterday, generating a grayish plume that rose 3,000 meters above the crater and drifted west-southwest. Phivolcs warned that ashfall is expected in Daraga, Guinobatan, and adjacent municipalities of Albay based on the prevailing wind pattern.

It also recommended the evacuation of residents within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ) due to the increased threat of lava flows, pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards. Phivolcs said the new phase of magmatic eruption increases the chances of lava flows and hazardous PDCs, locally known as uson, affecting the upper to middle slopes of the volcano in the coming days to weeks.

Communities near the volcano are advised to remain vigilant against PDCs, lahars, and sediment-laden streamflows along channels draining Mayon. Civil aviation authorities were also advised to warn pilots against flying close to the volcano's summit because ash from a sudden eruption could endanger aircraft.

Alert Level 3 indicates an increased tendency toward a hazardous eruption and relatively high volcanic unrest, as magma is close to or already at the crater. At this alert level, volcanic earthquakes and tremors may become more frequent, sulfur dioxide emissions may further increase, and rockfalls may occur in the summit area. Other signs of unrest include vigorous steaming, sustained crater glow, and persistent swelling of the volcano's edifice.

Phivolcs said an eruption could occur within weeks if the trend of increasing unrest continues. Mayon had been under Alert Level 2 since Aug. 5 before its status was raised to Level 3. Before Friday's eruption, Phivolcs recorded 101 volcanic earthquakes, including 18 volcanic tremors lasting one to eight minutes, from midnight of Oct. 29 to midnight of Oct. 30.

Source: mb.com.ph