Prolonged Mayon eruption seen

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — The eruption of Mayon Volcano may last for three months or more, Mayon’s resident volcanologist Ed Laguerta said yesterday.

“The abnormal activity of Mayon as recorded by our instruments and as per visual observation remains puzzling to us. We are having difficulty figuring out the...trend the volcano is going,” Laguerta told The STAR.

“Mayon will continue its lava eruption and lava fountaining and make a quiet lava extrusion,” he said.

The volcano spewed at least 53.5 million cubic meters of volcanic materials while 164 volcanic earthquakes, most of which corresponded to sporadic and weak fountaining, two rockfalls and a tremor  were recorded on Sunday.

Two weak lava fountaining were observed at about 2:54 a.m. and 5:22 a.m. yesterday. 

“Eruptible magma remains ascending in the magma chamber as its surface remains inflated or bulging. It means that the supply rate or replenishment is still continuing,” Laguerta said.

He also noted that Mayon still has 50 million cubic meters of eruptible magma.

“Since there is no measurable indication of changes in its eruption parameters, we will maintain Alert Level 4, ” Laguerta said.

Farms hit by ashfall

Legazpi agriculturist Jess Callos said 102 hectares of agricultural land, mostly vegetable farms, were hit by ashfall in Barangays Mabinit, Matanag, Boyoan and Padang. 

Callos said 102 hectares of coconut plantations in Barangays  Mabinit, Bonga and Matanag were also blanketed by ash.

He said the city agriculture office would provide vegetable seeds to affected farmers to encourage backyard gardening. 

Cedric Daep, Albay provincial security and emergency management office head, said there is still no threat of lahar despite a low-pressure area.

Daep said the amount of rainfall monitored has not reached the threshold level to trigger lahar flow in river channels especially in Guinobatan and Ligao. – With Helen Flores