By Raydes B. Barcia
Legazpi City – Mayon volcano is now on alert level 2 after the restiveness intensified due to growing lava dome and magmatic movement.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised the alert level of Mayon Volcano from Alert Level 1 to Alert Level 2.
Hazardous eruption may occurred anytime specifically phreatic explosion.
Since the Alert Level status of the said volcano was raised from Alert Level 0 to Alert Level 1 on 21 August 2022, monitored parameters have been generally unremarkable.
Based on 3:00 PM Bulletin released by Philippine Institute of Volcanology (Phivolcs) on Friday, the daily visual and camera monitoring of the summit crater revealed a continued aseismic growth of its lava dome.
As of 4 October 2022, the lava dome has increased in volume by approximately 48,000m3 since August 20, 2022.
Ocular inspection of the summit during an aerial survey this morning confirmed the presence of freshly extruded lava at the base of the summit lava dome.
Philvocs said, “The event was signalled only by observations of thin remobilized light-colored ash, likely derived from lava fragmentation during the extrusion process, on the floor of the Miisi Gully since 2 October 2022.”
In contrast, short-term ground deformation data relative to August 2022 yielded short-term deflation on the eastern to southeastern Mayon edifice, and only slight, short-term inflation on the general western to southwestern flanks.
Longer-term ground deformation parameters based on EDM, Precise Leveling, continuous GPS, and electronic tilt monitoring show that Mayon has been slightly inflated, especially on the northwest and southeast, since 2020. Lastly, SO2 emission last measured by campaign Flyspec on October 1, 2022 averaged 391 t/d, below baseline levels.
In view thereof, DOST-PHIVOLCS is raising the Alert Level of Mayon Volcano from Alert Level 1 (abnormal) to Alert Level 2 (increasing unrest).
This means that there is current unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes that could eventually lead to phreatic eruptions or even precede hazardous magmatic eruption. The public is strongly advised to be vigilant and desist from entering the six (6) kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) to minimize risks from sudden explosions, rockfall and landslides.
In case of ash fall events that may affect communities downwind of Mayon’s crater, people should cover their nose and mouth with damp, clean cloth or dust mask. Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.
DOST-PHIVOLCS maintains close monitoring of Mayon Volcano and any new development will be communicated to all concerned stakeholders.
Mayon Volcano last eruption took place in 2018. (Raydes B. Barcia)