Alert level 2 still up over Mayon Volcano after volcanic earthquake

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Thursday morning said it is maintaining the alert level status of Mount Mayon in central Albay province  to level 2 after it recorded volcanic earthquake.

“Alert Level 2 currently prevails over Mayon Volcano. This means that Mayon is at a moderate level of unrest,” Phivolcs said.

The Alert Level 2 has been up over Mayon Volcano since March.

Phivolcs said Mayon Volcano’s seismic monitoring network recorded one volcanic earthquake within 24 hours.

It added that the monitoring network also observed “moderate emission of white steam-laden plumes that crept downslope before drifting southwest and west-southwest.”

Phivolcs furthered that at night, the monitoring network observes fair crater glow from the summit.

In its 8 a.m. bulletin, Phivolcs then reminded the public of  sudden explosions, lava collapses, pyroclastic density currents or PDCs and ashfall.

It said that these occurrences may threaten areas in the upper to middle slopes of Mayon.

Phivolcs recommended “that entry into the six kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone or PDZ and a precautionary seven kilometer-radius Extended Danger Zone or EDZ in the south-southwest to east-northeast sector, stretching from Anoling, Camalig to Sta. Misericordia, Sto. Domingo must be strictly prohibited.”

It advised the people residing close to danger areas to observe precautions associated with rockfalls, PDCs or ashfall.

Meanwhile, Phivolcs also asked the civil aviation authorities’ pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit. It warned that “airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions and PDCs may pose hazards to aircrafts.”

Last month, Phivolcs said it observed two phreatic eruptions from Mayon. This eruption is “steam-driven and occurs when water beneath the ground or on the surface is heated by magma, lava, hot rocks, or new volcanic deposit.” — Rosette Adel