(Eagle News) — Mayon Volcano’s seismic monitoring network recorded five volcanic earthquakes during the latest 24-hour observation period, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said on Wednesday, Feb. 19.
In an advisory, PHIVOLCS said sulfur dioxide emission at the volcano, which remains on alert level 2, was also measured at an average of 288 tons per day on February 17.
“Recent electronic tilt data showed inflation of the middle to upper portions of the volcanic edifice that began in the last quarter of 2019. This follows an inflationary trend that began in February 2019 as recorded by continuous GPS monitoring,” PHIVOLCS said.
PHIVOLCS reiterated its recommendation that entry into the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone and into the precautionary seven-kilometer radius Extended Danger Zone or EDZ in the south-southwest to east-northeast sector, stretching from Anoling, Camalig to Sta. Misericordia, Sto. Domingo be strictly prohibited.
It said “sudden explosions, lava collapse, pyroclastic density currents or PDCs and ashfall can occur without warning and threaten areas in the upper to middle slopes of Mayon.”
People residing close to these danger areas were also advised to observe precautions against rockfalls, PDCs and ashfall.
“Civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions and PDCs may pose hazards to aircraft,” PHIVOLCS added.
