Mayon’s activity in the past 24 hours was characterized by degassing, weak lava fountaining and lava flow from the summit crater. Twelve (12) obscured lava fountaining events between 12:35 PM and 9:48 PM yesterday lasting four (4) to twenty (20) minutes were seismically recorded. Degassing events generated white to gray ash plumes that rose 300 to 2500 meters above the summit before drifting southwest. These events were accompanied by rumbling sounds audible within 10 kilometers of the summit crater. At night, lava flows were observed to continue moving downslope within 3.3 kilometers, 4.5 kilometers and 1.9 kilometers from the crater on the Miisi, Bonga and Basud Gullies, respectively.

A total of one hundred eighty-six (186) volcanic earthquakes and seventeen (17) rockfall events were recorded by Mayon’s seismic monitoring network. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission was measured at an average of 2,060 tonnes/day on 08 March 2018. Deflation of the lower flanks that began on 20 February is still being recorded by electronic tilt, although a period of slight inflation of has been recorded by Precise Levelling (PL) surveys this past week. Overall ground deformation data indicate that the edifice is still swollen or inflated relative to pre-eruption baselines.

Alert Level 3 currently prevails over Mayon Volcano. This means that although Mayon’s unrest continues, there is a decreased likelihood of hazardous explosive eruption to occur. PHIVOLCS-DOST reminds the public of 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. PHIVOLCS-DOST recommends that entry into the six kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone or PDZ and a precautionary seven kilometer-radius Extended Danger Zone or EDZ in the south-southwest to east-northeast sector, stretching from Anoling, Camalig to Sta. Misericordia, Sto. Domingo, must be strictly prohibited. People residing close to these danger areas are also advised to observe precautions associated with rockfalls, PDCs and ashfall. Active river channels and those perennially identified as lahar prone areas in the southern and eastern sectors should also be avoided especially during bad weather conditions or when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall. Civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions and PDCs may pose hazards to aircrafts. PHIVOLCS-DOST is closely monitoring Mayon Volcano’s activity and any new significant development will be immediately communicated to all stakeholders.