Phivolcs sees last of Mayon eruptions in next few weeks

By Rio N. Araja and Gabriellea Pariño

THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Monday said Mayon Volcano might calm within a few weeks.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) said a vaccine rollout in Albay will continue despite the threat of Mayon eruptions. Phivolcs placed Mayon under Alert Level 2 last June 5, then upgraded it three days later to Level 3 which remained unchanged until now.

“From our computations around 16 million cubic meters of volcanic materials have been released. Compared to the 2009 eruptions which spewed some 20 million cubic meters of volcanic mate - rials, there is now a slight difference, so we could wait for a little more time before it is finally over,” Phivolcs resident volcanologist Paul Alanis explained.

More than 40,000 residents were evacuated amid during the 2009 eruptions. From Alert Level 4 in December 2009, it was reduced to Level 3, and then Level 2, in January 2010.

“From our assessment, the eruptions may end in a few weeks,” he added.

Phivolcs described Mayon’s activities as “relatively quiet effusive eruption,”

In Brief

PNP, DICT ink accord on seamless connectivity

meaning lava steadily pours out of the volcano’s mouth.

Alanis also said the frequency of volcanic earthquakes has been increasing, with 834 quakes recorded since June 1 to the present time, or about two weeks, and 184 in just two days, or between July 16 and July 17.

He also noted the reappearance of “repetitive pulse tremors,” or a continuous tremor-like series of weak volcanic earthquakes at 11 a.m. on July 16.

Over 20,000 residents have been evacuated from Mayon’s six-kilometer permanent danger zone.

In a bulletin, Phivolcs said 238 rockfall events and three dome-collapse pyroclastic density current (PDC) events were also recorded.