Philippines’ most active volcano spews ash anew

MANILA: The Philippines’ most active volcano, Mount Mayon, spewed greyish white ash plume that rose 500 to 600 metres above the crater yesterday morning, Xinhua news agency reported, quoting a Philippine volcanologist.

Eduardo Laguerta, a resident volcanologist at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology ( Phivolcs), Albay province of northern Philippines, told Xinhua that the phreatic eruptions or steam- driven explosions occurred at 8.17 am and 8.28 am local time, adding that no major eruption is expected.

Phivolcs said the volcano is at a ‘ moderate level of unrest,’ prompting the authorities to warn residents to stay out of the volcano’s 6-km danger zone due to possible ‘sudden explosions.’

The volcano is located in Albay province, approximately 300 km southeast of Manila on the island of Luzon.

In a bulletin issued yesterday, Phivolcs warned that “sudden explosions, lava collapses, pyroclastic density currents and ash fall can occur and threaten areas in the upper to middle slopes” of the volcano.

Before the steam- driven explosions, the institute said it has recorded one volcanic earthquake during the past 24 hours.

“Moderate emission of white steam-laden plumes that crept downslope before drifting southwest and west-southwest was observed. Fair crater glow from the summit could be observed at night,” the bulletin read.