Evacuation area widens as Mayon lava spreads

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — Lava flows have increased while more residents have been evacuated from villages around the restive Mayon Volcano, which continues to show signs of a coming major eruption.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that 75 lava collapse events were recorded at Mayon yesterday morning.

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said all the indicators point to an eventual eruption.

“Lava is coming out as well as the collapse of the lava’s side at the summit, resulting in small pyroclastic flows and producing eruption ash clouds like advancing columns not due to a summit eruption but a continuing lava downward flow,” said Solidum. 

Lava flows are streams of molten rock that originate from a volcanic vent. Lava collapse happens when large volcanic boulders roll down, generating pyroclastic flow or pyroclastic density current.

Solidum said that four events of lava fountaining were observed at Mayon last Monday evening and captured by monitoring cameras.

“The lava fountaining was accompanied by tremors which didn’t last long compared to previous eruptions whose duration was longer,” Solidum said.

As of 8 a.m. yesterday, Phivolcs maintained Alert Level 3 over Mayon, which means that the volcano is currently in “a relatively high level of unrest as magma is at the crater and hazardous eruption is possible within weeks or even days.”

Alert level 4 means an eruption is possible “within days” while level 5 is when a hazardous eruption is under way.

Bicol officials reported that more than 23,000 residents have been evacuated from several villages in Ligao City, Tabaco City, Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Sto. Domingo and Malilipot, mostly on the foothills of the 2,460-meter high volcano in Albay province.

Phivolcs called on residents to be vigilant and watch out for pyroclastic density currents, lahar and sediment-laden stream flows.

Cedric Daep, chief of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (Apsemo), said thousands of villagers from the barangays surrounding the volcano fled home and trooped to evacuation centers during the past 24 hours.

He said they also issued advisory to the local officials of Camalig to take precautionary measures against the continuing ash fall blanketing several barangays of the town.

“We also advise motorists to avoid passing Camalig if they are going to the First District of Albay, but instead pass through the Sabloyon diversion between Ligao City and Tabaco City, to avoid ash fall,” Daep said.

Pilots were also reminded to avoid flying close to the summit, given ash from sudden eruptions can be hazardous to aircraft.

Solidum said lava started to flow at Mayon on Saturday after the phreatic eruption, unlike in previous eruptions where it took some years before lava started to flow. 

“Fast and less viscous lava is moving at two kilometers at 1.2 elevation,” said Solidum.

He said lava flow concentrated at the Miisi Channel has now branched off from the summit towards Bonga Channel.

“It’s moving towards Buyuan due to a lower elevation.”

The Phivolcs scientist said the lava travels faster because it was less viscous.

Ed Laguerta, Mayon resident volcanologist, said two lava collapse events were observed 1:30 p.m. on Monday that produced rockfall and small-volume pyroclastic density currents. 

The first occurred at 9:41 a.m. and at 10:05 a.m. that lasted five minutes and seven minutes, based on seismic record, respectively.

An 81-year-old evacuee of Mayon Volcano died of stroke yesterday morning while inside the evacuation center in Mayon Elementary School in Tabaco City.

Daep of Apsemo said that the victim, Teodolo Presia of Buang, a village at the foot of Mayon, was an “indirect” casualty of the volcano.

Daep had ordered an investigation to ascertain what really happened.

Ash fall was reported in Barangays Travesia, Muladbucad Grande, Maninila, Masarawag, Poblacion, Iraya, Ilawod, Calzada, Inamnan Grande, Inamnan Pequeño, Maguiron, Quitago and Mauraro in Guinobatan; Barangays Cabangan, Anoling, Sua, Tumpa, Quirangay, Gapo, Sumlang, Barangay 1 to 7 in Camalig town.

Residents have observed grayish to dirty white ash column rising to a maximum of about 1,000 meters above summit before drifting west-southwest.

Residents were barred from entering the six-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) and the seven-km Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) on the southern flanks due to the danger of rockfall, landslides and sudden explosions or dome collapse that may generate hazardous volcanic flows. 

Increased vigilance against pyroclastic density currents, lahar and sediment-laden streamflows along channels draining the edifice is also advised. 

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. Based on the seasonal wind pattern, ash fall events may most likely occur on the southwest side of the volcano.

The Albay provincial government has suspended classes in towns around the volcano.

Based on the seasonal wind pattern, ash fall events may most likely occur on the southwest side of Mayon, which includes the towns of Daraga, Camalig and Guinobatan, Phivolcs said. – With Helen Flores, Evelyn Macairan, Non Alquitran, Janvic Mateo, Michael Punongbayan, Cet Dematera

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