Contents

(BRAND ALVIC ESPLANA / file photo)

MANILA, Philippines – State volcanologists said more than 200 rockfall events and seven dense pyroclastic flows were recorded at Mayon volcano during the past 24-hour monitoring period.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), in its Friday morning update, said that from 5am on Friday (August 11) to 5am on Saturday (August 12), a total of 201 events of rockfall and seven pyroclastic density currents were detected by the Mayón Volcano Network.

Phivolcs added that 42 low-frequency volcanic earthquakes, one ash event and 58 tremor events were also recorded.

“Some of these tremors were accompanied by rumbling sounds audible within a seven kilometer radius from the Mayon crater,” Phivolcs said.

Meanwhile, Mayon’s slow lava outpouring persisted, feeding lava flows in the Bonga, Mi-si and Basud ravines.

“The lava flows have maintained their respective advances at approximately 3.4 kilometers, 2.8 kilometers and 1.0 kilometers from the crater,” Phivolcs said.

The volcano’s sulfur dioxide emission also continued, degassing 1,888 metric tons on August 11.

More than two months since he placed Mayon under Alert Level 3, Phivolcs said the volcano is still at a “high level of concern.”

“Alert level 3 remains over the Mayón volcano, which means that it is currently at a relatively high level of unrest and a dangerous eruption within weeks or even days could still be possible,” he stressed.

Phivolcs recommended that the six kilometer permanent danger zone be cleared, due to the danger of persistent lava flows, rockfalls and other volcanic hazards.