Mayon Volcano still in state of unrest - Phivolcs

MANILA, Philippines - Mayon Volcano is still in a state of unrest despite weaker emission of steam flumes and lower recordings of rockfalls in the past couple of days, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Wednesday.

"Mayon Volcano’s alert status remains at Alert Level 3. This means that magma is at the crater and that hazardous eruption is possible within weeks," Phivolcs said in its 8 a.m. update on Wednesday.

Phivolcs said it recorded only four rockfalls and a weak emission of white steam plumes during the past 24 hours.

It added that crater glow was not seen Tuesday night and the sulfur dioxide (SO2) flux was measured at an average of 569 tonnes per day, lower than the 1048 tonnes per day recorded Monday.

Due to the danger of a possible major eruption and rockfalls, landslides and explosions, the Phivolcs recommended the enforcement of the 6-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) and the 7-kilometer Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) in the southeastern part of the volcano.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has ordered the evacuation of residents living near the volcano.

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