MAYON Volcano erupted for the third time in less than 24 hours before Sunday noon.
In a bulletin issued Sunday at 3:30 p.m., the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said another steam-driven explosion occurred Sunday, 11:43 a.m. at Mt. Mayon in Albay and lasted about 15 minutes.
“The event produced an ash plume that was largely obscured by summit clouds. Sulfuric odor was detected in and traces of ash fell on Camalig, Albay,” the report said.
Alert level 2 remained in effect over the volcano, Phivolcs said, noting that magma could heat water beneath the ground or on the surface, causing more phreatic eruptions—or even magmatic eruptions.
“The public is strongly advised to be vigilant and desist from entering the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone to minimize risks from sudden explosions, rockfall and landslides,” Phivolcs warned.
The agency said communities on the western and southwestern flanks downwind of Mayon’s crater should cover their noses and mouths with clean, damp cloths in case of ash fall.
Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden eruption could be hazardous to aircraft.
“Based on the seasonal wind pattern, ash fall events may most likely occur on the southwest side of the volcano,” the agency said.
The second phreatic eruption was recorded at 8:49 a.m. BS lasted about five minutes, while the first phreatic eruption was observed at 4:21 p.m. on Saturday that lasted an hour and 45 minutes.
In an interview with radio dzBB, Cedric Daep, head of the Albay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office said there was a possibility of raising the alert status to Alert Level 3.
This would raise the volcano’s danger zone to eight kilometers from the volcano, an area where 20,000 people live. With PNA