THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) yesterday raised Alert Level 2 at Mayon Volcano in Albay due to increased volcanic activity.
During the “Laging Handa” public briefing, Phivolcs officer-in-charge Teresito Bacolcol said the agency recorded 49 rockfall events from 5 a.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. yesterday.
The number is way above daily average of five rockfall events the agency have recorded, according to Phivolcs in a bulletin issued at 10 a.m. yesterday.
Bacolcol said Alert Level 2 “means there is a current unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes that may eventually lead to phreatic eruptions or even precede hazardous magmatic eruption.”
Mayon Volcano is considered under “increasing unrest” under Alert Level 2. Alert Level 1 means “abnormal” state, according to Phivolcs.
“As of 9 May 2023, the lava dome has increased in volume by approximately 83,000 m3 since 03 February 2023 and a total of nearly 164,000 m3 since 20 August 2022,” Phivolcs also said.
It said it has recorded a total of 318 rockfall events and 26 volcanic earthquakes since April 1.
Phivolcs advised the public “to be vigilant and desist from entering the six kilometer-radius permanent danger zone to minimize risks from sudden explosions, rockfall and landslides.”
Phivolcs asked the residents who may be affected by possible ash fall events to cover their nose and mouth with a damp, clean cloth or use a dust mask.
“Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft,” Phivolcs added.
TAAL VOLCANO
On the increased degassing activity of Taal Volcano in Batangas, Bacolcol said it is not the lone parameter for increasing the alert status.
On Sunday, Phivolcs said it has observed increased degassing activity in the form of upwelling of volcanic fluids that produced steam-rich plumes that rose to 3,000 meters above Taal Volcano Island.
Phivolcs retained the volcano’s alert status at Alert Level 1 despite its increased degassing activity.
“There are are other parameters that we are looking at to increase from Alert Level 1 to Alert Level 2. One of these would be the increased in seismicity, another would be inflation,” said Bacolcol.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said its offices in the Calabarzon and Bicol regions have been directed to stockpile family food packs and ensure they have enough standby funds as part of preparations for possible increase in activities of the two volcanoes.
DSWD Bicol regional director Norman Laurio reported to the Central Office that quick reaction teams have been alerted. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
