NDRRMC: No entry into 6-km danger zone of Mayon Volcano amid unrest

October 11 ------ The entry of individuals into the six-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) of Mayon Volcano has been banned as its alert level was raised due to “increased unrest,” the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported.

NDRRMC spokesperson Rafaelito Bernardo Alejandro IV said heightened monitoring is being conducted on Mayon Volcano after it was placed raised to Alert Level 2 by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) over the weekend. “Ang dapat pong gawin ay strict enforcement ng hindi pagpapapasok or walang activity sa six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone lalo na sa southeast, southwest sector kung saan nakikita natin na pwedeng magkaroon ng avalanche or ‘yung land ay magbiyak ‘yung kanyang crater kung mayroong activity,” Alejandro said in a public briefing. Flying of any aircraft close to the volcano was also prohibited under Alert Level 2.

Local government units (LGUs) in Albay were also told to prepare for any preventive measures such as forced evacuation in case Mayon’s unrest further escalates. “Kailangan natin siguraduhin na handa lahat ng responders o LGUs for that matter para magreact tayo in case na i-elevate pa or may further activities. Kailangan natin i-revisit ang contingency plan, magstockpile na tayo ng mga resources, and of course magconduct na tayo ng early assessment habang nasa Alert Level 2 pa lang siya,” Alejandro stated.

“Ang babantayan lang natin dito sa side ng Phivolcs ay ‘yung pagtaas ng magma kung mayroon, pag-increase ng volcanic earthquakes titignan natin ‘yan kasi these are indicators na mayroong major activity na mangyayari,” he noted. “It will take months pa bago ma-elevate into further maging Level 3 but habang nasa Level 2 siya, pwede pong mangyari ‘yung phreatic explosion,” he stated.

The Phivolcs raised the alert of Mayon Volcano to Level 2 last week after experts observed an increased unrest on Mayon’s activities. It released 391 tons of sulfur dioxide last October 1 while its edifice appeared to be slightly inflated, according to Phivolcs. A faint crater glow was also observed at the summit of the volcano and at least one volcanic earthquake was recorded over the weekend while plumes were seen drifting down the volcano. Among those being monitored by the authorities are sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions; rockfalls, landslides and avalanches; and lahars during heavy and prolonged rainfall.

Last month, authorities reportedly monitored new residential structures, a school building, and paved road that were built within the six-km PDZ around Mayon Volcano, alarming the Office of Civil Defense in Bicol region (OCD-5). The OCD has encouraged LGUs to prevent the establishment of any structure within the danger zone to prevent casualties in case of an emergency such as a vocanic eruption. Famed for its perfect-shaped cone, Mayon Volcano last erupted on January 13, 2018 when it exhibited a phreatic explosion. In 2020, its crater also showed crater glow which was attributed to magma that were present underneath the surface of the volcano.

According to Phivolcs, one of the most destructive eruptions of Mayon Volcano happened on Feb. 1, 1814 when it killed approximately 1,200 people.

Source: mb.com.ph