THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) keeps a close watch of MAYON Volcano amid observations that “it is not improving but not deteriorating.”
Meanwhile, government assistance to the villagers affected by Mayon’s restiveness has reached P131.2 million, up from P108 million as of last June 8, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) disclosed.
Phivolcs resident volcanologist Dr. Paul Karson Alanis compared the Volcano to being at the intensive care unit of a hospital which needed a sustained vigil.
Over the past 24 hours, Phivolcs recorded 295 rockfall events, three volcanic earthquakes, two dome-collapse pyroclastic density currents (PDC) that lasted two minutes, and two “light brown” lava emissions reaching 200 meters above the cater.
The volcano also unleashed 962 tons of sulfur dioxide during the past 24 hours, the Philvolcs said.
Alanis still warned residents inside the volcano’s seven- to eight-kilometer extended danger zone to prepare for possible evacuation after pyroclastic materials were monitored at the Basud Gully facing the south and south east quadrants of the volcano.
The quadrants covered Legazpi City, Daraga, and Santo Domingo towns in Albay province.
The NDRRMC said the relief goods dispatched by the government consisted of distilled water drums, family food packs, health kits, tents, financial and fuel aid, hog grower feeds, hygiene kits, laminated sacks, mosquito nets, nylon ropes, rice, and tarpaulins.
Presently, the number of affected families was placed at 11,045 equivalent to 42,815 persons residing in 26 barangays.
A total of 5,775 families were staying in 28 evacuation centers.
“Alert Level 3 is maintained over Mayon Volcano, which means that it is currently in a relatively high level of unrest as magma is at the crater and hazardous eruption within weeks or even days is possible,” the Philvocs said.
“It is therefore recommended that the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone (PDZ) be evacuated due to the danger of PDCs, lava flows, rockfalls and other volcanic hazards,” the agency said.
A very slow effusion of lava flows from the crater were observed along Mi-isi gully extending up to 2.7 kilometers and along Bonga gully extending up to 1.3 meters, the Phivolcs said.
Lava collapse was also seen on both gullies within 3.3 kilometers, it added.
Over the weekend, a new lava collapse was observed along Basud gully, extending up to four kilometers as Phivolcs noted an increased activity in the volcano.
A moderate emission of plumes reaching up to 500 meters was seen from the volcano, drifting in the west and west-northwest directions.
Philvolcs has also warned that heavy rainfall could generate channel-confined lahars and sediment-laden stream flows in channels where PDC materials were deposited.
“Increased vigilance against pyroclastic density currents, lahars and sediment-laden stream flows along channels draining the edifice is also advised,” PHIVOLCS said.
It added that aircraft should avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.
Based on the current prevailing wind pattern, the Phivolcs said ash fall events may most likely occur on the south side of the volcano.
Alert Level 3 over Mayon was raised on June 8 after three PDC events were observed on the Bonga (southeast) and Basud (east) gullies of the volcano.