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Monday, July 31, 2006
Mayon's eruption may occur within days (3:40 p.m.)
LEGAZPI CITY -- Volcanologists said field reports show "very high" indication that Mayon Volcano's eruption may occur within days as sulfur dioxide gas readings has gone at about 3,000-10,000 tons daily last week, compared to the normal level of 500 tons.
"The scenarios will be continuous lava flow or there might be a shift to an explosive phase," Renato Solidum, chief of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.
He said based on previous events, a steady increase in sulfur dioxide emissions could culminate in an eruption. A sudden decrease after very high readings could also result in a large explosion, characterized by tall ash columns and pyroclastic flows, which are clouds of extremely hot gases, ash and other debris that race down mountain slopes at high speed, incinerating everything in their path.
Earthquakes may signal rising magma levels and the "inflation" of the mountain, all signs of a possible violent eruption, Solidum said.
Sulfuric emission was accompanied by 388 tremor episodes and lava flow, cascading down the southeast slopes, and advancing 100 meters farther to the Mabinit Channel at 6:30 Monday morning. A bright orange summit glow was exhibited on Sunday caused by lava coming from the crater.
Ground deformation is apparent caused by the continuing intrusion of magma inside the volcano, Phivolcs said.
On Sunday, dozens of residents, visitors from nearby towns and local tourists, flocked to the village of Mabinit on the outskirts of Legazpi city, capital of Albay, to watch in awe as lava fragments crumbled, exposing molten rocks beneath.
One man went up to one of the rocks to light a cigarette. Some posed for pictures with the smoldering lava deposit more than five stories high behind them as a backdrop.
Alert Level 3 Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) is a "no man's land" in a seven-kilometer radius. Phivolcs reminds the residents to be vigilant of the hazards associated with either explosions from the summit or from the advancing lava flow in the southeast, especially in Barangays Mabinit, Mi-isi, Bonga, Matanag and Buyuan.
Residents are advised to be prepared for evacuation at anytime if Mayon's activity escalates further.
Lava from the volcano threatened to burn coconut groves along its slopes Sunday as dozens of awed onlookers flocked to the edge of the flow.
The volcano came to life in a mild eruption on June 14, oozing lava from the crater of the 2,474-meter mountain.(AP/Sunnex) |
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