19-6-2023 (MANILA) The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has warned that an explosive eruption from Mayon Volcano cannot be ruled out as the volcano continues to exhibit signs of unrest such as lava flows and volcanic earthquakes. Phivolcs chief Dr. Teresito “Toto” Bacolcol has stated that these activities reflect “what is happening on the vent.” He revealed that at least three volcanic earthquakes and 11 pyroclastic density currents were recorded from 5 a.m. on June 17 to 5 a.m. on June 18, along with 274 rockfall events and 1,004 tons/day of sulfur dioxide (SO2).
Despite the current parameters reflecting an effusive eruption, Bacolcol emphasized that the possibility of an explosive eruption remains. “So far the current parameters are still reflecting on what is happening, the effusive eruption, but the possibility of an explosive eruption is still there,” he stated in a Viber message to The Manila Times.
Over the past 24 hours, slow effusion of lava from the crater has continued on the Mi-isi (south) and Bonga (south-eastern) gullies, according to Phivolcs. “The lava flows have advanced to maximum lengths of 1,500 meters from the summit crater while collapse debris [has] deposited to 3,300 meters from the crater,” the Mayon Volcano Network reported. “Continuous moderate degassing from the summit crater produced steam-laden plumes that rose 100 meters before drifting to the general west.”
Phivolcs has maintained Alert Level 3, indicating that the volcano is in a high level of unrest and a hazardous eruption is possible.
