Mayon Volcano’s ongoing unrest may lead to lava flows and lava flows in the coming days, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
The country’s most active volcano was raised to Alert Level 3 from Alert Level 2 on Tuesday after a large eruption of the smit lava dome was observed.
PHIVOLCS said the project presents a high probability of lava flows and pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), fast-moving, superheated avalanches of volcanic gas, ash, and debris.
“We may expect after a while, when the release of new magma or lava from the Mayon River has stabilized, that we will have a lava flow,” Ma. Antonia “Mariton” V. Bornas, Head of the Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division at PHIVOLCS, said in an interview.
“It is also possible to hear lava fountains from Mayon Volcano.”
Mrs. Bornas noted that a possible volcanic event could be similar to the 2023 eruption, involving a powerful eruption, or a slow lava flow, lasting several months.
Although the lava flow itself is slow and does not cause immediate hazards, it can still lead to PDC events, he said.
“Lava flows also tend to collapse, and lava flows will produce pyroclastic density currents,” he said, noting that this could affect areas within the six-kilometer danger zone.
Although a possible explosion is a possible situation in Mayon, Mrs. Bornas said there is still a possibility of an eruption due to the long pre-eruption period of the volcano.
Ground deformation has been observed in this volcano since June 2024, he said.
If monitoring parameters continue to increase, PHIVOLCS may raise the situation to a Level 4 Alert.
Ms. Bornas reminded the public to strictly avoid the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) to stay safe from hazards such as PDCs, rockfalls, and ballistic projectiles. He also warned of lahars, or volcanic lava, during periods of heavy rain, advising the public to avoid river channels because lahars can be hot.
As of 12:00 am, Alert Level 3 is still in effect for Mayon. According to PHIVOLCS, 131 rockfall events and five PDCs were recorded in the period recently assessed. A sulfur dioxide flux of 702 tons per day was also recorded, indicating that the volcano remains in a state of inflammation and high turbulence. A visible crater glow was also observed during the vigil.
Mayon is one of the 22 volcanoes in the Philippines and has erupted more than 50 times over the past four centuries. Its most devastating eruption occurred in February 1814, claiming the lives of about 1,200 people. The Philippines lies within the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” a belt of numerous active volcanoes and incessant earthquakes.—Edg Adrian A. Eva
