Mayon Volcano in Albay spewed ash twice yesterday morning.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said two phreatic eruptions were observed at 8:17 a.m. and 8:28 a.m.
Phreatic eruption is driven by steam produced by heat and expansion of ground water due to an underlying hot source.
Phivolcs said the events generated grayish to grayish white ash plume that rose 600 meters and 200 meters above the summit, respectively, before drifting southwest.
Prior to these events, Phivolcs observed that Mayon Volcano’s seismic monitoring network recorded one volcanic earthquake during the 24-hour observation period.
Fair crater glow from the summit was also observed at night.
Sulfur dioxide emission was measured at an average of 1943 tons a day on Nov. 25, while precise leveling data obtained from Oct. 22 to 31 indicate inflation of the edifice in the southeast sector while the north sector indicate short-term deflation relative to Aug. 30 to Sept. 3.
Overall, however, the volcano generally remains inflated relative to 2010 baselines, Phivolcs said.
Mayon Volcano remains under Alert Level 2, which means “a moderate level of unrest.” The active volcano has been under Alert Level 2 since March 2018.
Phivolcs warned that “sudden explosions, lava collapses, pyroclastic density currents or PDCs, and ashfall can still occur and threaten areas in the upper to middle slopes of Mayon.” (Ellalyn V. Ruiz)
