Lava fountaining detected in Mayon

MANILA, Philippines — Several lava fountaining activities have been recorded at Mayon Volcano in Albay, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Phivolcs said the latest activity, recorded at 8:29 p.m. on Tuesday, registered as a harmonic tremor with distinct overtones in the frequency spectra.

On Monday, a short-lived lava fountaining and a minor Strombolian activity occurred between 11:17 a.m. and 12:57 p.m., generating incandescent lava flows, pyroclastic density currents or uson and rockfalls.

On the same day, a weak lava fountaining episode occurred at 7:42 p.m., producing incandescent fountains and ash plumes that rose 250 meters and drifted southwest, Phivolcs said.

Mayon Volcano has been under Alert Level 3 or “increased tendency toward hazardous eruptions” since Jan. 6.

Entry into the volcano’s six-kilometer-radius permanent danger zone is strictly prohibited due to possible sudden eruptions, rockfalls, landslides, lava flows and pyroclastic density currents.

Pilots have been advised to avoid flying close to the volcano as ash plumes can be hazardous to aircraft.