Phivolcs re-assesses Mayon’s unrest

LEGAZPI CITY — Government volcanologists are meeting here today to re-evaluate the state of unrest of Mayon Volcano as their earlier 20-day countdown on its supposedly imminent eruption ends.

Last Aug. 7, Mayon’s explosion prompted volcanologists to raise alert level four, forcing residents within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone to evacuate.

But with Mayon seemingly quiet these past days, authorities have allowed residents of villages excluded from the "must evacuate" list to return home.

But Lestie Saquilon, science researcher of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), belied reports that the agency would lower Mayon’s alert level to three in a few days.

"We all know here that the volcano’s condition continues to remain very abnormal," he said.

In the past four days, Mayon’s mild explosions have stopped, although its sulfur dioxide emissions and volcanic quakes have fluctuated.

In fact, Saquilon said 24 volcanic quakes, indicating magma ascent toward the crater, were detected Saturday.

Mayon has shown signs of unrest since last March, spewing tons of ash in several episodes.