Mayon's alert status down to level 3

MANILA — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Tuesday has lowered the alert status of Mayon Volcano in Albay, reflecting the overall decrease in the level of unrest.

Phivolcs downgraded Mayon’s status from alert level 4 or a hazardous eruption is imminent to alert level 3 or decreased tendency toward hazardous eruption.

“Mayon Volcano’s condition in the past week has been characterized by a general decline in unrest reflected by moderate seismicity and degassing, deflation of the edifice and a decrease in eruptive activity at the summit crater,” the volcanology institute said.

Phivolcs, however, clarified that the lowering of alert level should not be interpreted that the unrest has ceased.

“The volcano can be expected to continue generating volcanic earthquakes, magmatic gas output and weak surface processes such as sporadic degassing and lava effusion events, steam-driven explosions, rockfall and pyroclastic density currents, while shallow remnant magma rests within the edifice,” it said.

Phivolcs suggested that entry into the six kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone and a precautionary seven kilometer-radius Extended Danger Zone in the south-southwest to east-northeast sector must be strictly prohibited.

“Active river channels and those perennially identified as lahar prone areas in the southern and eastern sectors should also be avoided especially during bad weather conditions or when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall,” it added.

Alert level 4 was hoisted over Mayon, the country’s most active volcano, last January.

The province of Albay was placed under the state of calamity last January 16.