Mayon spews ash

LEGAZPI CITY — Mayon Volcano spewed yesterday a column of ash about 100 meters high, the second since Sunday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Resident volcanologist Ed Laguerta said the "phreatic explosion" occurred at 11:20 a.m. and the ash drifted toward the southwest direction.

Another such explosion was observed at 3:09 p.m. Sunday, with the ash column reaching about 150 meters high.

"(Mayon) is not yet silent," he said, adding the volcano remains inflated due to rising magma.

A faint crater glow was also observed Sunday night. Volcanologist Alex Baloloy said Mayon’s continued abnormal behavior will prevent Phivolcs from lowering the present alert level 3. — Celso Amo, Cet Dematera