Mayon alert level raised

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) yesterday raised the alert level at Mayon volcano in Albay from 1 (low-level unrest) to 2 (moderate unrest), as the volcano showed signs of intensified restiveness in the past several weeks.

“This alert condition signifies a state of unrest which could lead to ash explosions or eventually hazardous magmatic eruption,” Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said.

He, however, said that despite the raised alert level, there is no need to evacuate the residents around the volcano.

But Solidum warned villagers of possible mud and lahar flows from Mayon that can be triggered by heavy rains.

In an advisory, Phivolcs said the number of recorded low-frequency volcanic earthquakes has increased, signifying possible movement of magma beneath the volcano at a shallow depth.

“The present seismic count is at the same level when a phreatic explosion occurred in August 2008,” it said.

Phivolcs said crater glow has intensified and could be observed at the Lignon Hill observatory without the aid of telescopes. Steam emission was at moderate level.

An aerial survey conducted last July 8 also found a cone-shaped pile of hot, steaming old rocks, possibly remnants from previous eruptions that could be the source of the crater glow, the agency said.

“The low-frequency volcanic earthquakes and ground uplift could indicate that fresh volcanic materials are moving upward at depth, causing the formation of the cone-shaped pile of materials at the crater,” it said.

Phivolcs said six volcanic quakes were recorded in the past 24 hours.

It said people are barred from entering the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone around the volcano and the seven-kilometer extended danger zone on the southeast flank due to the threat of sudden explosions and rockfalls from the upper slopes.

“Active river channels and those areas perennially identified as lahar-prone in the southeast sector should also be avoided, especially during bad weather conditions or when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall,” it said.

Provincial public safety chief Cedric Daep said they have deployed teams to make a headcount of residents in high-risk areas.

“Albay is ready and readying,” said Gov. Joey Salceda in a text message to The STAR.

The 2,462-meter, cone-shaped volcano spewed ash and lava from July to October 2006, forcing some 30,000 villagers to evacuate.

Typhoon-triggered mudslides along Mayon’s slopes buried entire villages in December 2006, killing more than 1,000 people. – With Dennis Carcamo, Cet Dematera and Celso Amo