Phivolcs monitoring equipment stolen

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Thieves took an equipment used by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to monitor seismic activities at Mayon Volcano.

Alex Baloloy, Phivolcs science research specialist, said meters of electric wire and five pieces of 12-volt batteries were also taken, paralyzing the transmission of the seismic data from the northwest and northeast sector of the volcano.

“We were surprised when our computers did not receive any signal on that part of the volcano since Dec. 14,” said Baloloy.

“We thought the batteries were already discharged only to find out the equipment were no longer there when we made an ocular inspection last Dec. 22,” he said.