Mayon Volcano continues ‘moderate’ unrest level with 6 steam eruptions recorded Wednesday evening

MAYON VOLCANO in Albay remains at a moderate level of unrest with six phreatic eruptions recorded Wednesday evening. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), in its March 14 bulletin as of 8 a.m., said the ash plume generated from these eruptions rose between 200 to 700 meters above the summit before drifting west. Six volcanic earthquakes and three rockfall events were also recorded. In the previous 24 hours, three similar eruptions were also monitored. “Fair crater glow from the summit could be observed at night. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission was measured at an average of 763 tonnes/day on 13 March,” Phivolcs said. The alert level 2 remains in place, which means the public is warned of possible “sudden explosions, lava collapses, pyroclastic density currents or PDCs and ashfall. Entry is strictly prohibited within the six kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone as well as the precautionary seven kilometer-radius extended danger zone. “Active stream/river channels and those identified as perennially lahar-prone areas on all sectors of the volcano should also be avoided, especially during extreme weather conditions when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall,” it added.