No lowering yet of Mayon alert level

LEGAZPI CITY – Mayon Volcano will remain under Alert Level 3 as its abnormal activities fluctuate, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said yesterday.

Renato Solidum, Phivolcs director, said they could not yet lower the alert level from 3 to 2 as the volcano continued to show restiveness in the past 24 hours.

“Our instruments continue to detect activities inside the magma chamber,” Solidum told The STAR over the phone yesterday.

He said the still swollen edifice of the volcano indicates activity in the chamber.

“Fresh magma could again be ascending to the surface,” Solidum said.

“Mayon’s alert status will stay for as long as its abnormal parameters are above the normal level.”

Two eruptions were recorded on Friday, at 10:39 a.m. and 9:33 p.m.

Phivolcs monitoring in the last 24 hours showed that Mayon’s activity was characterized by degassing and gravity-driven lava flow.

At least 11 rockfalls and 1,543 tons of sulfur dioxide emission were recorded within the period.

Phivolcs urged local and disaster officials to ban residents and tourists from the six-kilometer permanent danger zone, particularly during the Holy Week.

Catholics usually conduct the Way of the Cross at the Mayon Resthouse in Tabaco City during the holiday.

Ed Laguerta, Mayon resident volcanologist, said devotees and even tourists might try to sneak into the resthouse to observe the traditional Way of the Cross.

“The Mayon Resthouse is 3.5 kilometers from the crater,” Laguerta said.