Mayon activities intensify
Posted by JAC on 12/18/2009, 1:18 pm







By RIO ROSE RIBAYADecember 18, 2009, 4:42pm

A significant increase in volcanic activities in the last two days has prompted state volcanologists to warn Friday about the "high possibility of eruption" by Mount Mayon in Albay province.

Citiing reports from its seismic network, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that Mayon Volcano had a total 248 volcanic quakes and tremors since Monday.

In a statement, Phivolcs director Renato Solidum explained that 50 of these events were explosion-type, wherein minor explosions produced volcanic earthquakes and tremors.

"However, only seven were observed during times of good visibility. These explosions produced dark gray to dark brown ash columns that reached a maximum height of up to 1,000 meters above the summit before drifting southwest," Solidum said.

The top Phivolcs official added that there has been an intensified glow in the crater of Mount Mayon on Thursday evening while the volcano's steaming activity ranged from dirty white to light brown in color during the cloud break observed Friday morning.

Solidum also warned that the lava spewed by Mayon Volcano since Monday continue to advance, reaching approximately three kilometers down its slopes while fragments from lava pile continuously roll down along the Bonga gully.

While lava fragments have reached up to four kilometers along the slopes of Mount Mayon, he noted that the emission rate of sulfur dioxide has been recorded at its highest 1,065 tons per day.

Despite the significant increase in volcanic activities, Phivolcs maintained an alert status of Level 3 or relatively high unrest, recommending the banning of human activities within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone around the near perfect cone-shaped volcano.

Due to the lingering threats of sudden explosions that could generate hazardous volcanic flows, Phivolcs also advised to maintain the seven-kilometer extended danger zone on the southeast flank of the volcano.

At the same time, Solidum advised residents living outside the extended danger zone but within eight kilometers from the crater in the southern part of the volcano to be "extra alert for increased volcanic activity."

"Active river channels and those perennially identified as lahar-prone in the southern sector should also be avoided especially during bad weather conditions or when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall," Solidum reiterated.

Meanwhile, health officials warned tourists flocking to see Mayon volcano to wear masks to avoid respiratory tract infections.

Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, the Department of Health program manager on emerging and re-emerging diseases, said volcanic eruptions involve ash fall that triggers asthma and other related respiratory diseases such as cough and colds.

Lee Suy said the DoH may be able to provide masks to the people residing near the volcano although those at risk have already been advised to relocate.

Experts said volcanoes emit hazardous gases such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, radon, hydrogen chloride, hydrofluoric acid, and sulfuric acid. Inhaling these gases may lead to anoxia, a state where oxygen is low that can lead to mental confusion, hallucination and amnesia, among other conditions.

Volcanic air pollution can also cause acute bronchitis, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the US said.

The website of the Atlanta-based pool of experts said these dangerous gases cause acute bronchitis, the inflammation of the airways of the lungs.

Malacañang for its part said it is bracing for the worst in Mayon as it noted that prepositioning of relief support continues in Albay.

Presidential economic spokesperson Gary Olivar expressed the Arroyo government's readiness to provide additional assistance to the tens of thousands evacuees.

"We are pretty read for whatever what might happen," he told a press briefing.

He said medical teams have been ferried to attend to the medical needs of more than 40,000 displaced residents since Monday.

He pledged the administration's willingness to make available additional contingency fund to local officials apart from the P22 million standby calamity fund allocated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Quoting DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral's report to Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, Olivar said the DSWD already provided more than R442,000 worth of relief support, including bottles of mineral water, boxes of biscuits, family food packs and face masks.

He also noted P98 million worth of food and P83 million worth of non-food items were prepositioned at the DSWD-National Resource Operations Center.

"In addition the department has a standby calamity fund of about P22 million and since nothing else is going on, that is potentially all available for the situation in Albay so these are the resources being lined up," he said. (With reports from Jenny F. Manongdo and Charissa M. Luci)




Mayon Volcano Bulletin 4        
18 December 2009


7:00 AM

Mayon Volcano (13.2576 N, 123.6856 E) manifested an increase in its activity during the past observation period. A total of two hundred forty eight (248) volcanic quakes and tremors were recorded by the seismic network. Fifty (50) of these events were explosion type, however, only seven (7) were observed during times of good visibility. These explosions produced dark gray to dark brown ash columns that reached a maximum height of up to 1000m above the summit before drifting towards southwest. Harmonic tremors were continuously recorded by the seismic instruments.

During the cloud break this morning, steaming activity ranged from dirty white to light brown in color. Night observation showed an intensified crater glow.

The advancing lava flow has now reached approximately 3 kilometers downslope from the crater while incandescent fragments from the lava pile continuously roll down along Bonga Gully reaching about 3-4 kilometers downslope. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) emission rate was still high at 1,065 tonnes per day (t/d).

Alert Level 3 remained hoisted over Mayon Volcano.  Since an increasing trend is noticeable at present, the possibility of hazardous volcanic eruption is high. Thus, PHIVOLCS-DOST recommends that the 6-km radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) around the volcano and the 7-km Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) on the southeast flank of the volcano should be free from human activity because of sudden explosions that may generate hazardous volcanic flows. In addition, areas in the south that are outside the 7 kilometer danger zone but within 8 kilometers of the crater should be extra alert for increased volcanic activity.  Active river channels and those perennially identified as lahar prone in the southern sector should also be avoided especially during bad weather conditions or when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall.  PHIVOLCS-DOST is closely monitoring Mayon Volcano's activity and any new significant development will be immediately posted to all concerned.

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Mayon activities intensify - JAC, 12/18/2009, 1:18 pm
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