Mayon Volcano Won't Quit — 30 Quakes, Glowing Lava, and 57 Straight Days of Eruption
Mayon Volcano is not letting up. The iconic Albay landmark has now been under Alert Level 3 for 57 consecutive days, and Thursday's monitoring report showed 30 volcanic earthquakes and yet another effusive eruption — with glowing lava streaming down its slopes in the dead of night.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) released time-lapse footage of the eruption, which was detected at around 12:10 a.m. The eruption produced lava flows accompanied by pyroclastic density currents (locally called 'uson') and rockfalls around the volcano's flanks. In just 24 hours, 323 rockfall events and six pyroclastic density currents were recorded.
Sulfur dioxide emissions were also significant, reaching 1,582 tonnes — a sign that magma continues to degas from beneath the surface. The six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone remains strictly off-limits to everyone, and PHIVOLCS has warned residents to stay vigilant against ballistic fragments, lava fountaining, and lahar flows.
The agency noted that it has yet to determine whether the increasing activity could lead to a moderate explosive event similar to what was recently observed at Mount Kanlaon in Negros Occidental. Kanlaon's eruption last year forced thousands to evacuate and disrupted flights across the Visayas.
For now, the advice to communities near Mayon is simple: stay alert, prepare for the worst, and follow evacuation orders immediately if PHIVOLCS decides to raise the alert level further. With rainy season approaching, the threat of lahars — volcanic mudflows triggered by sustained rainfall — makes the situation even more dangerous.
Source: Daily Tribune
