LEGAZPI CITY — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised Mayon Volcano’s alert level status from 1 to level 2 shortly after midnight Sunday after it spewed ash due to unexpected phreatic eruption during heavy rains Saturday afternoon.
Monitoring by Phivolcs’ instruments recorded another phreatic explosion at 8:49 Sunday that lasted 5 minutes and 4 seconds and recorded continuing rockfalls at the southeastern quadrant of Mayon Volcano, according to Eduardo Laguerta, Phivolcs resident volcanologist at the Lignon Hill observatory here.
He said these parameters prompted the raising of the alert level from 1, which means abnormal, to level 2, which in Phivolcs’ terms means “increasing unrest”.
Laguerta, added the increasing unrest detected by the agency’s instruments with ash plume in grayish color spewed this morning follows the south west direction of the wind blowing within the province of Albay.”
Phivolcs, in its advisory, reiterated that the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) is a no-entry zone to the public because of the perennial danger of life-threatening rockfalls, avalanches, ash puffs and sudden phreatic or steam-driven eruptions.
Based on seismic records, the activity started around 4:21 Saturday afternoon and lasted 1 hour and 47 minutes.
Traces of ash fell on Barangay Anoling in Daraga; Barangay Sua, Quirangay, Tumpa, Ilawod and Salungan of Camalig and in Barangay Tandarora, Maninila and Travesia in Guinobatan.
Faint crater glow has been first observed at 10:16 p.m. Saturday.
Meanwhile, Albay Public Safety Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) head Cedric Daep reminded the communities on the western and southern flanks downwind of Mayon crater should cover their nose and mouth with damp, clean cloth or dust mask.
Civil aviations authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcanos summit as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.
“Based on the seasonal pattern, ash fall event may most likely occur on the southwest side of the volcano”, Daep said. (PNA)