Residents near Mayon Volcano told to brace for possible eruption

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) yesterday warned residents living near Mayon Volcano of possible eruption.

State seismologists said one rockfall event and a volcanic earthquake were recorded around the restive volcano during the past 24-hour observation period, raising chances of a larger eruption.

Ed Laguerta, Phivolcs-Bicol chief seismologist, said they have alerted local government officials to brace for possible eruption so that residents would not be caught unaware like in 1897 and 1814. 

He said 2014 is considered by Mayon observers as an “overdue” year for another eruption.

“If you will notice, 2014 is 200 years apart from the 1814 Plenian eruption and 100 years away from the 1897 explosion. The pattern of these eruptions tells us that Mayon’s deadliest explosion happened within an interval of 100 years,” Laguerta told The STAR.

Phivolcs earlier raised the alert level over Mayon Volcano to 2 from 1, which means “magma was intruding at depth and current conditions may eventually lead to eruption.”

Alert level 2 means the volcano is in a state of “moderate unrest” compared to Alert level 1, which means a state of “abnormal condition.”

The agency observed moderate emission of white steam plumes that drifted southwest.

No crater glow, however, was observed Friday night despite the emergence of a lava dome at the crater, it said.

Permanent danger zone

Phivolcs advised the public not to enter the six- kilometer radius permanent danger zone to minimize risks from sudden ash explosions, rockfall and landslides.

Cedric Daep, chief of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office, said they have warned villagers within the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone to brace for sudden episodes of ash explosion due to pressure buildup from a magma intrusion toward the summit.

The agency said sulfur dioxide (SO2) flux was measured at an average of 850 tons per day on Aug. 11, which was beyond the baseline level of 500 tons per day for the past two months.

To achieve zero-casualty, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has banned mountain climbing, orchid picking and vegetable harvesting in the area.  

Daep said they will strictly enforce the ban within the prohibited zone.

He said they are monitoring round the clock the condition of the volcano as well as the activities of residents near the permanent danger zone.

Ground deformation data showed inflationary changes in the edifice from February until the second week of June based on precise leveling surveys, Phivolcs said.

“All data indicate that the volcano may have been experiencing increased volcanic gas emission and slight but persistent swelling due to the intrusion of magma beneath,” Phivolcs said.

A phreatic eruption occurred at Mayon Volcano on May 7 last year, killing at least five people and injuring several others.

Eruptions of Mayon were recorded in 1968, 1978, 1984, 1993, 2000-2001, 2006 and 2009.

Mayon’s most destructive eruption happened on Feb. 1, 1814. This event affected the southern slope of the volcano, specifically Camalig, Cagsaua, Budiao and Guinobatan and resulted in 1,200 casualties, according to Phivolcs.   – With Celso Amo