September 16, 2014 was the last recorded date that Mt. Mayon had been active. On the said date, about 12,000 families were evacuated from the extended 6-8 kilometer danger zone of the volcano. Alert level 2 to 3 was declared by PHIVOLCS due to the rockfall events and increasing seismic activities occurring.
Mayon Volcano, labelled as “Perfect cone shaped” volcano in the Philippines, showed some signs of being active again after 2 years of “sleeping”.
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) announced the warning after Mt. Mayon showed “abnormal activities” last Sept. 8,2016.
“Phreatic explosion may happen anytime, but a big explosion is expected to come in the coming days”, this is according to Mr.Eduardo Laguerta, a PHIVOLCS resident volcanologist.
“The massive drying up of wells across Albay, specifically in the municipalities surrounding the volcano, may be attributed to the magma movement activity beneath the restive volcano”, Laguerta added.
3 consecutive earthquakes that originating from Sto.Domingo fault line was recorded by PHIVOLCS from the month of August.
On the 2014 eruption, the magma build up did not pass the belly of the volcano, but a “magmatic eruption” may be possible to occur on the coming days.
“Today the possibility to continue for magmatic eruption is possible, we cannot discount the possibility of a big explosion”, Laguerta said.
With these volcanic activities, PHIVOLCS placed Mt. Mayon to Alert Level 1.
And reminded the public living near the volcano to stay away from the 6-kilometer danger zone, to avoid casualties.
