Mayon’s condition for the past 24 hours was characterized by a short lull that was followed by lava collapses, generally quiet degassing, weak lava fountaining and effusion and degassing from the summit crater. Between 7:23 AM and 2:02 PM yesterday, five (5) episodes of lava-collapse pyroclastic density currents (PDC) were visually observed on the Miisi, Basud and Bonga-Buyuan Gullies within 4-5 kilometers of the summit crater. Sporadic activity at the summit resumed at 2:56 PM and generated ash plumes 100-500 meters above the summit that drifted to the southwest. In the evening, lava effusion from the vent was observed to continue feeding lava flows that have maintained fronts at 3.3 kilometers, 4.5 kilometers and 900 meters on the Miisi, Bonga and Basud Gullies, respectively, from the summit crater.
A total of one hundred twenty-three (123) volcanic earthquakes and two (2) rockfall events were recorded by Mayon's seismic monitoring network. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission was measured at an average of 2070 tonnes/day on 23 February 2018. Deflation of the lower slopes that began on 20 February was recorded by electronic tilt, consistent with the transition to quiet lava effusion at the summit crater, a brief lull and resumption of sporadic fountaining. Nonetheless, overall electronic tilt and continuous GPS data indicate that the edifice is still swollen or inflated relative to November and October 2017, consistent with campaign Precise Leveling data acquired this week.
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.
