by Mar Serrano/PNA
Mayon Volcano had three phreatic eruptions that sent grayish ash plume into the air towards the towns of Camalig and Guinobatan on Tuesday afternoon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.
Paul Alanis, Phivolcs science research specialist, said three phreatic or steam driven eruptions were observed at 3:10 p.m., 3:18 p.m., and 3:34 p.m. Tuesday.
Alanis, in a phone interview Wednesday, said these events triggered light brown to grayish ash plumes, which are about 500 meters, 1,000 meters and 500 meters above the summit, respectively.
He said the phreatic eruptions were only minor, which according to him, was expected due to the remaining magma left at the volcano’s vent.
As this developed, Alanis dismissed speculation that the phreatic episodes would lead to a major eruption, saying “the episode was but normal for a restive volcano”.
Alert Level 2 is currently up over Mayon Volcano, which means that it is at a moderate level of unrest.
Phivolcs reiterated its warning for the public to keep out of the designated six-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ) and the seven-kilometer extended DZ in the stretch of Barangays Anoling in Camalig town to Sta. Misericordia in Sto. Domingo.
Phivolcs warned the public that sudden explosions, lava collapses, pyroclastic density current (PCS), and ash fall could still occur and threaten areas in the upper to middle slopes of the volcano.
Civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions and PDCs may pose hazards to aircraft.