Mayon still unstable – Phivolcs

LEGAZPI CITY – The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned disaster and local officials not to be complacent, them that Mayon Volcano remains in a highly abnormal and unpredictable state.

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum stressed it is too early to say Mayon is proceeding on a downward trend.

“We have to observe for at least two more weeks before we could come up with a decision to lower the alert status of Mayon, if its present nonexplosive eruption episode would be sustained,” Solidum

said.

Tourists, however, were seen inside the six-kilometer danger zone at Barnagay Miisi in Daraga, Albay.

Cedric Daep, Albay provincial security and emergency management office (Apsemo) chief, said he will call the attention of Daraga disaster officials regarding the presence of people inside the danger zone.

“They have to comply with our advisory so we will achieve the objective of zero casualty,” Daep said.

“And to achieve that, (there should be) no human activity at the 6-PDZ (permanent danger zone) and the extended one-kilometer danger zone at the south flank of Mayon,” he said.

Solidum warned Mayon could erupt violently should massive degassing take place inside the magma chamber.

“Besides, our instruments are telling us that Mayon’s

EDD GUMBAN A rainbow appears at the foot of Mayon Volcano in Legazpi, Albay yesterday. Phivolcs says it was too early to tell if volcanic activity is on a downward trend.