In observance of the Holy Week, the Philippine News Agency’s online news service will be off on March 29, Good Friday, and March 30, Black Saturday. Normal operations will resume on March 31, Easter Sunday.

— The Editors

Hydrothermal reaction triggers more Mayon volcanic quakes

By Connie Calipay and Samuel Toledo

January 27, 2021, 6:41 pm

<p>Mayon Volcano in Albay province. <em>(PNA file photo)</em></p>

Mayon Volcano in Albay province. (PNA file photo)

LEGAZPI CITY – More volcanic earthquakes were detected in Mt. Mayon mainly due to rainwater coming in contact with the deposited magma at the upper chamber of the volcano, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on Wednesday.

However, Paul Alanis, Phivolcs resident volcanologist at the Lignon Hill Observatory here, said this hydrothermal reaction does not mean that Mayon's abnormal activities are increasing.

“It is still too early to tell that Mayon’s present abnormal condition (Alert level 1) is escalating. We have to observe increased activities in its other abnormal parameters,” Alanis told the Philippine News Agency.

Mayon Volcano’s monitoring network recorded 36 volcanic earthquakes and one rockfall event during the past 24-hour observation period, Phivolcs' latest bulletin showed.

“Moderate emission of white steam-laden plumes that crept downslope before drifting west-northwest and west was observed,” Phivolcs added.

Alanis said while faint crater glow at the summit could be observed at night, sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission was measured at 401 tons in the past monitoring period, a bit below the threshold of 500 tons per day.

But Phivolcs warned that “active stream or river channels and those identified as perennially lahar-prone areas on all sectors of the volcano should be avoided especially during extreme weather conditions when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall.” (PNA)

 

Comments