Mayon emitting more sulfur dioxide

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Mayon volcano emitted yesterday sulfur dioxide that was more than thrice the normal volume of 500 tons per day, triggered by the massive degassing and continuous magma build-up inside it.

In its bulletin yesterday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the sulfur dioxide emission was measured at 1,977 tons in the past 24 hours, the highest since alert level 2 was raised around Mayon last month.

Ed Laguerta, Phivolcs’ resident volcanologist here, said the sulfur dioxide emission was consistent with the volcano’s sustained ground inflation. – Cet Dematera