MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network): Mayon Volcano was placed on Alert Level 3 on Thursday (June 8) noon after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) observed an increase in rockfall events since June 3.
Phivolcs, in a bulletin, said that the “volume of discrete rockfall events increased on June 3 based on the seismic record, signaling an increase in the rate of dome growth”.
“Three (3) pyroclastic density current or PDC events on the Bonga (southeast) and Basud (east) Gullies were observed today at 6:18am, 9:53am and 11:00am. The PDCs lasted four to five minutes based on the seismic record and emplaced within a kilometer of the summit crater. In contrast, SO2 emission remains at baseline or background levels,” Phivolcs said.
The agency warned that Mayon is exhibiting magmatic eruption, a potential explosive activity within weeks or days.
“In view thereof, Phivolcs-DOST is now raising the alert status of Mayon Volcano from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 3. This means that Mayon is exhibiting magmatic eruption of a summit lava dome, with increased chances of lava flow and hazardous PDCs affecting the upper to middle slopes of the volcano and of potential explosive activity within weeks or even days,” Phivolcs said.
“It is therefore recommended that the 6-km radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) be evacuated due to the danger of PDCs, lava flows, rockfalls and other volcanic hazards. Increased vigilance against pyroclastic density currents, lahars and sediment-laden streamflows along channels draining the edifice is also advised,” it added.
