The Mayon Volcano in the Albay province of the Philippines is “quietly erupting,” according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Thursday. Albay is located about 500 kilometers southeast of Manila.
The institute raised the alarm over the 2,460-meter volcano to the third level in a five-step warning system, warning of a “potential explosive activity within weeks or even days” of the most active volcano located on the southernmost tip of Luzon island.
“The overall monitoring parameters indicate that very slow extrusion of shallow degassed magma is ongoing and is incrementally increasing rate, i.e., an effusive magmatic eruption is taking place,” the institute said in a bulletin.
“This means that Mayon is exhibiting magmatic eruption of a summit lava dome, with increased chances of lava flows and hazardous pyroclastic density current affecting the upper to middle slopes of the volcano and potential explosive activity within weeks or even days,” it said.
Four days after warning of the volcano’s “increasing unrest” that could result in either a phreatic or magmatic eruption, the institute issued a new alert.
The institute advised the evacuation of people in the 6 km radius danger zone “due to the danger of pyroclastic density current, lava flows, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards.”
“Increased vigilance against pyroclastic density currents, lahars, and sediment-laden streamflows along channels draining the edifice is also advised,” it added.
Additionally, the institute encouraged civil aviation authorities to advise pilots to steer clear of flying near the volcano’s summit since ash from any unexpected eruptions can be dangerous to planes.
Due to its cone shape, Mayon is a well-liked tourist site. It is also the nation’s most active volcano, having erupted more than 50 times in the previous 400 years.
Due to its location on the “Ring of Fire” in the Pacific, the Philippine archipelago is vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
