No fresh lava on Mayon crater - Phivolcs

LEGAZPI CITY , Philippines  – Five days after its alert level was lowered from 4 to 3, Mayon volcano further subsided with an aerial survey showing no fresh lava on its crater.

“What we can see is a small volume of lava pile or incandescent material resting at the inner crater wall. No fresh lava is also visible,” Ed Laguerta, resident volcanologist here of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), said as he reviewed video footage from the aerial survey.

Fellow volcanologist Alex Baloloy said though that 20 volcanic earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours – from only four on Tuesday – as well as 20 rockfall events.

The volume of sulfur dioxide emitted, however, drastically dropped to 672 tons from 1,914 tons the other day.

If these abnormal parameters continue to subside in a few more days, Baloloy said Mayon’s alert level could possibly be reduced to 2 in a week or two. 

But he said a lower alert level “will only be seriously considered if all the abnormal signs simultaneously go down.”

He said they would also review the results of ground deformation surveys they are conducting until today.

Phivolcs is still prohibiting any human activity within the volcano’s six-kilometer permanent danger zone and the seven-kilometer extended danger zone on the southeast flank due to sudden explosions that may generate hazardous volcanic flows.

“People residing close to these danger areas are also advised to observe precautions associated with post-eruption activity, such as rockfalls, pyroclastic flows, and ash fallout which can also occur anytime due to instabilities of lava deposited on the steep slopes,” Phivolcs said in its latest bulletin.

It said that active river channels and those perennially identified as lahar-prone in the southern sector should also be avoided, especially during bad weather conditions or when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall.

“Civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ejected ash and volcanic fragments from sudden explosions may pose hazards to aircraft,” it added.

Meanwhile, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said he has approved the release of P3 million for the construction of core shelters for the 313 families still housed at the Anislag resettlement site in Daraga, and at the Fidel V. Ramos-Florencio Muñoz relocation site in Camalig.       – With Helen Flores