The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Thursday, June 8, raised the status of Mayon Volcano to Alert Level 3 due to its increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption.
In an advisory on Thursday noon, Phivolcs said Mayon Volcano is exhibiting magmatic eruption of a summit lava dome, with increased chances of lava flows and hazardous PDCs (pyroclastic density currents).
“This affects the upper to middle slopes of the volcano and of potential explosive activity within weeks or even days,” Phivolcs said.
From June 5 to 8, Phivolcs recorded a total of 267 rockfall events and two volcanic earthquakes.
Phivolcs recommended that the six kilometer-radius permanent danger zone be evacuated due to the danger of PDCs, lava flows, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards.
It added that based on the current prevailing wind pattern, ash fall events may most likely occur on the south side of the volcano. CF