Two solar panels being used in monitoring Mayon Volcano in the observatory station of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology in Legazpi City, Albay have been stolen.
The theft of these equipment could affect Phivolcs data gathering on Mayon Volcano.
According to Phivolcs, thieves took away two solar panels, 150 watts each, from its Mayon resthouse station that hosts instruments for earthquake monitoring, Global Positioning System, and tiltmeter.
Phivolcs said that the equipment was discovered missing by the Mayon Volcano Observatory personnel during their routine inspection and preventive maintenance service the other day.
“With loss of power supply, no data will be transmitted from this station and consequently will affect the monitoring of Mayon Volcano,” Phivolcs said.
“Loss of equipment hinders the monitoring of Mayon Volcano and may endanger lives,” it added.
The State volcanology agency also warned the public that unauthorized taking, stealing, keeping, or tampering of government risk reduction and preparedness equipment, accessories, and similar facilities is prohibited by the law under Republic Act 10344 or the Risk Reduction and Preparedness Equipment Protection Act of 2012.
Following the incident, Phivolcs urged the public to help secure monitoring stations installed around the volcano.
“The public is strongly encouraged to help in taking care of our monitoring instruments and to promptly report any untoward incident,” it said.
MAYON CRATER GLOW
Phivolcs also said that a glow has been observed at the summit crater of Mayon in the past two days which is likely caused by “hot magmatic gases heating the overlying atmosphere.”
This phenomenon, according to Phivolcs, indicates that remnant magma from its last explosion in 2018 “may be quietly rising to the shallow levels of the edifice.”
“Since the end of magmatic eruption in March 2018, Mayon Volcano has exhibited declining earthquake activity and sulfur dioxide emission. However, a slight swelling or inflation of the edifice began in February 2019,” Phivolcs added.
State volcanologists explained that Mayon’s recent behavior has been mainly driven by “changes occurring within magma that was already present, instead of fresh magma moving toward the surface.”
TAAL VOLCANO UPDATE
Threat remains in areas near Taal Volcano as activities continued underneath despite fewer steam, quakes, and gas emission observed yesterday.
Phivolcs said weak emission of steam-laden plumes reaching 50 to 100 meters high was observed in Taal in the past 24 hours.
Level of sulfur dioxide further declined and was below instrumental detection yesterday.
The number of volcanic quakes recorded also decreased with a total of 132 tremors plotted by the Taal Volcano Network, including three low-frequency events and 11 harmonic tremors, from Wednesday morning to yesterday morning.
These earthquakes, Phivolcs explained, “signify magmatic activity beneath the Taal edifice that could lead to eruptive activity at the main crater.”
Alert Level 3 is still in effect over Taal Volcano which means that there is a “relatively high unrest manifested by seismic swarms, including the increasing occurrence of low-frequency earthquakes and or harmonic tremors where some events are felt.” (Alexandria Dennise San Juan)