Lava bursts observed anew in Mayon

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — Lava bursts were observed again in Mayon Volcano in the past 24 hours, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Paul Alanis, Phivolcs resident volcanologist at the Lignon Hill Observatory in this city, said the lava bursts occurred at 6:36 p.m. on Friday and 12:06 a.m. yesterday.

“We captured these lava bursts through our installed cameras and posted these events on our Facebook account,” Alanis told The STAR.

He said the lava bursts indicate that magmatic degassing activities are occurring in the volcano.

Alanis said lava flows were observed in June and July before Mayon settled to slow lava effusion that is continuously taking place.

“With the resurgence of these abnormal signs, there is no way yet that we can downgrade Mayon’s prevailing Alert Level 3 to 2,” he said.

Mayon has been under Alert Level 3 since June 8.

Phivolcs said 31 volcanic earthquakes, 23 tremor events that lasted for 52 minutes, a pyroclastic density current (PDC), 87 rockfall events and 592 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions were monitored in the past 24 hours.

Phivolcs said lava flows have reached 3.4 kilometers in Bonga (southeastern), 2.8 kilometers in Mi-isi (south) and 1.1 kilometers in Basud (eastern) gullies in Legazpi City, Daraga and Sto. Domingo, respectively.

The agency said entry into the six-kilometer-radius permanent danger zone should remain prohibited due to the danger of PDCs, lava flows, rockfalls and other volcanic hazards.

Albay Provincial Tourism, Culture and Arts Office chief Dorothy Colle had earlier said Mayon Volcano’s restiveness, particularly its lava flows, are drawing more foreign and local tourists in the province.

Colle said the view of the cone-shaped volcano ”oozing with lava in a non-violent manner” attracts tourists, especially at night.

She said stores have been extending their business hours to cater to the surge of Mayon viewers.