Mayon’s activity in the past 24 hours was characterized by sporadic and lava fountaining, lava flow and degassing from the summit crater. Between 7:34 AM yesterday and 4:06 AM this morning, the seismic network recorded eighty (80) discrete seismic events associated with otherwise obscured lava fountaining that lasted two (2) to forty-nine (49) minutes and were accompanied by rumbling and chugging sounds audible beyond 10 kilometers of the summit crater. Incandescent lava fountains with heights of 100 to 600 meters generated dirty white to gray ash plumes that rose 100 to 800 meters from the summit before drifting west-southwest to southwest. Seven (7) episodes of lava-collapse pyroclastic density current (PDC) events were visually observed between 1:44 PM and 3:05 PM yesterday depositing along Miisi, Basud and Bonga-Buyuan Gullies within two kilometers of the summit crater. Lava flow sustained at 3.3 kilometers, 4.5 kilometers and 900 meters on the Miisi, Bonga and Basud Gullies, respectively, from the summit crater. Pyroclastic density currents or PDCs remained confined within the farthest recorded reaches of 4.6, 5.2 and 4.2 kilometers on the Miisi, Bonga and Basud Gullies, respectively.

A total of one hundred forty-three (143) volcanic earthquakes, corresponding to recharge of magma beneath the edifice and lava fountaining events, were recorded by Mayon's seismic monitoring network. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission was measured at an average of 4,273 tonnes/day on 21 February 2018. Electronic tilt and continuous GPS still record sustained swelling or inflation of the edifice since November and October 2017, consistent with pressurization by magmatic intrusion.

Alert Level 4 still remains in effect over Mayon Volcano. The public is strongly advised to be vigilant and desist from entering the eight (8) kilometer-radius danger zone, and to be additionally vigilant against pyroclastic density currents, lahars and sediment-laden stream flows along channels draining the edifice. Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft. DOST-PHIVOLCS maintains close monitoring of Mayon Volcano and any new development will be communicated to all concerned stakeholders.