THE effusion of lava flow of the Mayon Volcano has reached a maximum of 1.5 kilometers, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Sunday, June 18, 2023.
In an observation report, the Phivolcs said the effusion of lava flow from Mayon is “very slow.”
It said there is a lava collapse on Mi-isi and Bonga Gullies within 3.3 kilometers from the crater.
From June 17 to 18, two volcanic earthquakes, 280 rockfall events and nine pyroclastic density current events were recorded from Mayon. It has emitted 1,004 tonnes of sulfur dioxide.
There was a moderate plume emission reaching up to 100 meters tall, drifting to the west direction.
In a news forum on Saturday, June 17, Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said the decline in the recorded volcanic earthquakes from Mayon is a positive development but close monitoring is still necessary.
“As of now, wala tayong masyadong volcanic earthquakes na nakikita. Significant po iyan kasi habang umaakyat iyong magma, dapat mayroon tayong mari-record na mga low frequency volcanic earthquakes,” he said.
(As of now, we don't see many volcanic earthquakes. That is significant because as magma rises, we should be recording low-frequency volcanic earthquakes.)
“For now, maintain pa rin iyong Alert Level 3 and the recommended six-kilometer permanent danger zone, iyong mga tao doon sa loob we recommended that they should be evacuated...So, kapag may mga abrupt changes sa parameters, we might consider extending the danger zone to seven kilometers or if not kapag masyadong abrupt na talaga, we have to raise to Alert Level 4 but for now it’s still maintained at Alert Level 3,” he added.
(For now, we will still maintain Alert Level 3 and the recommended six-kilometer permanent danger zone. We recommend that people within that area should be evacuated. So, if there are abrupt changes in the parameters, we may consider extending the danger zone to seven kilometers, or if the changes are very abrupt, we may have to raise it to Alert Level 4. But for now, it's still maintained at Alert Level 3.)
The local government of Albay has earlier extended Mayon’s danger zone to seven from six kilometers.
In a situational report as of 8 a.m. on Sunday, June 18, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said a total of 38,979 individuals or 10,123 families were affected by Mayon’s unrest.
A total of 19,062 persons or 5,492 families were inside evacuation centers.
The NDRRMC said a total of P62,426,692.65 worth of assistance have been provided to the affected population. (SunStar Philippines)