Phivolcs mulls lowering Mayon’s alert level

MANILA, Philippines — State volcanologists are considering lowering the alert level over Mayon Volcano in Albay from Level 3 to 2 amid a decline in volcanic activities.

“The parameters that we have been monitoring are decreasing. Within the past 24-hour period, the Mayon Volcano Network recorded no volcanic earthquake, no pyroclastic density current and no rock fall event,” Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director Teresito Bacolcol said yesterday.

Downgrading the alert level from 3 to 2 means Mayon is in a moderate level of unrest.

“We are monitoring every day. If these parameters are sustained, we might consider lowering the alert level from 3 to 2,” Bacolcol said.

Phivolcs said that over the past 24 hours, it recorded slow lava flows of 2.8, 3.4 and 1.1 kilometers at the Mi-isi, Bonga and Basud gullies, respectively.

At least 1,279 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions were recorded, although Phivolcs said it failed to log the height of the steam plume as clouds blanketed the volcano.

In June, Phivolcs placed Mayon under Alert Level 3 after the volcano showed increased activities including volcanic quakes, pyroclastic density currents, lava flows and rock fall events.