Mayon records increased seismic activity; alert triggers

Monday, August 14, 2023

Mayon Volcano, located in the Philippines, has exhibited heightened volcanic activity, registering 126 volcanic earthquakes and 179 rockfall events within the past 24 hours, as reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Monday. The volcano remains under Alert Level 3. This region is noted as a popular tourist destination in Philippines for its symmetric conical shape mountain. The Mayon Volcano is located at Legazpi, Albay in the Bicol region. Mt. Mayon is also referred to by the locals as “Bulkang Magayon” which means “beautiful volcano.”

PHIVOLCS’ latest bulletin, released at 5 a.m., detailed that the recorded volcanic earthquakes included 56 tremor events, ranging from one to 45 minutes in duration. Some of these tremors were accompanied by audible rumbling sounds, detectable within a seven-kilometer radius of Mayon’s crater.

The Mayon Volcano Network detected one pyroclastic density current and four lava front-collapses. The eruption of lava from the summit crater continues at a gradual pace, extending approximately 3.4 kilometers along the Bonga Gully (southeastern), 2.8 kilometers along Mi-isi Gully (south), and 1.1 kilometers along Basud Gully (eastern).

The collapsing margins of the lava flow and summit dome have deposited debris within a four-kilometer radius from the crater, according to PHIVOLCS.

Sulfur dioxide emissions from Mayon measured an average of 966 tonnes per day on Sunday, August 13. The volcano also generated a moderate plume rising to 1,500 meters, drifting in various directions including southeast, west, southwest, and west-southwest.

Alert Level 3 remains in effect for Mayon Volcano due to intensified unrest or magmatic unrest. PHIVOLCS cautioned that a “hazardous eruption within weeks or even days” is possible.

The ongoing activities of Mayon Volcano have already impacted more than 38,000 individuals or 9,000 families across 26 barangays in the Bicol Region, as reported by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). As the volcanic activity continues to be closely monitored, local authorities and residents remain vigilant for potential hazards and evacuations.

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