339 rockfall events recorded at Mayon

MANILA, Philippines — Thirteen dome-collapse pyroclastic density currents (PDC) and 339 rockfall events were observed in the past 24 hours as the slow effusion of lava continued at the summit of Mayon Volcano, with lava advancing 2,500 meters from the crater, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said yesterday.

Phivolcs noted that lava flow from the Mi-isi (south) and Bonga (southeastern) gullies had advanced to 1,800 to 2,500 meters while collapse debris was deposited up to 3,300 meters from crater.

Continuous moderate degassing from the summit crater produced steam-laden plumes that rose 750 meters, with sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission averaging 706 tons a day.

Paul Alanis, Phivolcs resident volcanologist at the Lignon Hill Observatory in Legazpi City, said lava effusion remains round-the-clock but in a very slow pace that prevents flow from further advancing downslope in the past days.

“But due to the very slow effusion of lava from the summit crater, lava fronts are not immediately advancing. Also, the collapse debris was accumulating while remaining confined inside the deep minor and major gullies of Mayon, a situation that is preventing these ejected volcanic materials from immediately rolling down the slopes,” Alanis told The STAR.

The 339 rockfall events recorded in Mayon yesterday were 40 events higher than in the past two days at 299 apiece, accompanied by steam-laden plumes and SO2 emissions that averaged at 775 meters and 540 tons each in a day, respectively.

Phivolcs said that Alert Level 3 is still hoisted over Mayon due to the relatively high level of unrest as magma is at the crater.

It recommended the evacuation of the 6-km radius permanent danger zone (PDZ) as it warned that hazardous eruption within weeks or even days is possible.

Almost 20,000 residents have been evacuated since the unrest started at the volcano earlier this month.

P85.6 million in aid

Various government agencies led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development have so far spent more than P85.6 million in assistance to families affected by Mayon Volcano’s unrest in Albay.

Based on daily situational reports being released by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the amount steadily increases each day as the basic needs of those in temporary shelters are provided.

Assistance being given included financial help, food, distilled water, empty drums, family food packs, family kits, family tents, fuel, food for their farm animals, hygiene kits, tents, rice, sleeping kits and other necessities.

As of yesterday, the NDRRMC said a total of 10,110 families or 38,982 persons have been affected by Mayon’s increased activity, which started more than two weeks ago.

Of the number, 5,336 families or 18,733 persons are being housed in 28 evacuation centers in the Bicol region outside the extended PDZ.

Meanwhile, relief assistance from the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) continue to arrive at Albay for the province’s residents displaced by Mayon Volcano’s unrest.

The PRC said food trucks arrived at the Bariw Elementary School and Bariw National High School, which were converted into evacuation centers. Up to 937 evacuees received hot and nourishing meals, the humanitarian organization said in a statement.

The PRC also set up welfare desks and provided child-friendly space activities as well psychological first aid for the evacuees’ mental well-being.

Water tankers carrying 55,000 liters of water were brought to several schools in the provinces, benefiting around 4,866 families. — Cet Dematera, Michael Punongbayan, Emmanuel Tupas