Phivolcs raises alert level of Mayon Volcano

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised today afternoon the alert level of Mayon Volcano in eastern Philippine province of Albay due to increasing unrest.

The state-run agency said that alert level 2 was raised for Mayon Volcano as magma was intruding at depth and that current conditions may eventually lead to a larger eruption.

Visual observation of Mayon Volcano's summit crater on Wednesday revealed the growth of a new lava dome approximately 30- 50 meters high, it said.

With this development, Phivolcs strongly advised the public to be vigilant and desist from entering the 6 kms radius permanent danger zone to minimize risks from sudden explosions, rockfall and landslides.  

Phivolcs said it will maintain close monitoring of the volcano.

Mayon Volcano is the most active volcano in the Philippines having erupted over 48 times in the past 400 years. Renowned as the "perfect cone," the mountain was declared a national park and a protected landscape in 1938 and later renamed as the Mayon Volcano Natural Park in  2000.

The last time Mayon Volcano spewed ash, called as phreatic eruption, was in May last year where five climbers were killed.