Mayon’s activity in the past 24 hours was characterized by general quiescence, gravity-driven lava flow and degassing from the summit crater.  Three (3) events between 7:11 AM and 1:41 PM that lasted one (1) to two (2) minutes generated ash plumes that rose 600 meters above the summit crater before drifting southwest. At night, lava flows were observed to continue moving downslope within 3.3 kilometers, 4.5 kilometers and 900 meters from the crater on the Miisi, Bonga and Basud Gullies, respectively.

A total of fifty-three (53) volcanic earthquakes and four (4) rockfall events were recorded by Mayon’s seismic monitoring network. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission was measured at an average of 1,533 tonnes/day on 28 February 2018. Deflation of the lower slopes that began on 20 February is still being recorded by electronic tilt. 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 last 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.