Earthquakes in Mayon Volcano up again at 184 — PHIVOLCS
By GISELLE OMBAY, GMA Integrated News
Published July 24, 2023 2:26pm
Updated July 24, 2023 2:31pm
The volcanic earthquakes recorded in Mayon Volcano have increased again to 184 in the past 24 hours after four consecutive days where it had less than a hundred quakes, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Monday.
PHIVOLCS’ bulletins in the recent days showed that Mayon Volcano, on Thursday, July 20, had 90 volcanic earthquakes, then it decreased to 81 on Friday, and further to 22 on Saturday.
By Sunday, July 23, only five volcanic earthquakes were logged in the restive volcano in Albay.
Despite this, PHIVOLCS director Teresito Bacolcol said that it is still uncertain whether the Mayon Volcano will have moderate-sized explosions in the next few days.
“Bumaba ‘yung lindol from July 22 to 23, pero tumaas na naman between kahapon and kanina. Umabot na ito ng 184 volcanic earthquakes from five volcanic earthquakes. Mahirap nating sabihin kasi kapag susumahin natin ‘yung total seismic energy release, masyadong mababa pa rin po,” he explained at the televised public briefing.
(The earthquakes decreased from July 22 to 23, but increased again between yesterday and earlier today. It reached 184 volcanic earthquakes from five volcanic earthquakes. It is difficult for us to say because when we add up the total seismic energy release, it is still too low.)
As of Monday, 156 rockfall events and four pyroclastic density current events were also registered in Mayon Volcano.
It also continued to have a slow effusion of lava from the summit crater, reaching 2.8 kilometers along both Mi-isi and Bonga Gullies, and 600 meters along the Basud Gully.
Lava collapses were also still within 4 kilometers from the crater.
Mayon Volcano’s sulfur dioxide emission also averaged 2,047 tonnes on Saturday, July 22. It also generated a moderate amount of plume which drifted southeast and east-southeast.
“Hindi pa rin ito indication na kailangan nating itaas ‘yung Alert Level kasi ‘yung mga sulfur dioxide from the previous eruptions, umaabot ng 5,000 tonnes per day,” Bacolcol said.
(This is still not an indication for us to raise the Alert Level because the sulfur dioxide from the previous eruptions reached 5,000 tonnes per day.)
Alert Level 3 is currently raised in Mayon Volcano due to its intensified unrest or magmatic unrest.
According to PHIVOLCS, this means there are “sustained increases in the levels of volcanic earthquakes, some may be perceptible. Occurrence of low-frequency earthquakes, volcanic tremor, rumbling sounds.”
“Forceful and voluminous steam/ash ejections. Sustained increases in SO2 emission rates, ground deformation/swelling of the edifice. Activity at the summit may involve dome growth and/or lava flow, resultant rockfall,” it added.
NDRRMC: 38K people affected
A total of 38,396 individuals or 9,876 families in 26 barangays in the Bicol Region have been affected by the activities of Mayon Volcano so far, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Monday.
Of them, 18,782 people or 5,372 families are staying in 27 evacuation centers in the Bicol Region, while 1,452 people or 418 families are seeking temporary shelters outside of evacuation centers.
The Department of Health (DOH) reported last week that a total of 1,624 acute respiratory infections—including cough, colds, and sore throat—-were logged from June 12 to July 16, in Albay evacuation centers amid the Mayon Volcano’s continued unrest.
The NDRRMC said P249.7 million worth of assistance has been provided in the Bicol Region. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News