Phivolcs says Mayon still restive, but shows ‘very slow’ lava gushes

By Rio N. Araja

MAYON Volcano remained restive over the past 24 hours, registering 299 rockfalls and eight dome-collapse pyroclastic density current (PDC) events amid very slow lava effusion.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said zero volcanic earthquake recorded during the same period, but more pyroclastic emissions took place compared to the previous day.

“Alert Level 3 is maintained over Mayon Volcano, which means that it is presently in a relatively high level of unrest as magma is at the crater and hazardous eruption within weeks or even days is possible,” the Phivolcs bulletin stated.

Two very slow effusions of lava flow from the crater were observed along Mi-isi gully extending 2.5 kilometers and along Bonga gully reaching 1.8 kilometers. Lava flows on both gullies was also seen within 3.3 kilometers from the crater. A moderate emission of plumes reaching up to 750 meters was observed over the Albay volcano drifting to the southwest direction.