The Mayon Volcano will likely remain under a state of unrest for several more weeks, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), as authorities continue to monitor its ongoing activity.
PHIVOLCS Director Teresito Bacolcol said the volcano’s current behavior mirrors its 2023 eruption, which lasted for about six months under Alert Level 3.
“So what we are seeing at Mayon Volcano is basically the same as what we saw during its 2023 eruption. It is also an effusive eruption, similar to what we are observing now,” Bacolcol said during a government broadcast.
He noted that during the 2023 event, Alert Level 3 was raised in June and only lowered in December after months of sustained activity.
Alert Level 3 was again hoisted over Mayon on January 6 this year after the detection of pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), locally known as “uson,” signaling a high level of volcanic unrest.
Based on current observations, Bacolcol said the unrest could persist for a similar duration.
“Sa nakikita natin, ganito rin tatagal yung current activity ng Mayon Volcano. Right now, nasa pang-118 days na tayo, a little more than three months, and we expect this to last for several more weeks,” he explained.
The volcano’s recent activity has caused ashfall in several areas in Albay, including Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao City, and Daraga, prompting response efforts from local authorities.
PHIVOLCS said raising the alert status to Level 4 would depend on the presence of multiple critical indicators. These include sustained lava fountaining, stronger or more frequent explosive activity, increased volcanic earthquakes, significant changes in sulfur dioxide emissions, and noticeable ground deformation.
“If these parameters occur simultaneously and are sustained, this could indicate more dangerous activity. If this happens, we may raise the alert level from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 4,” Bacolcol said.
Monitoring data from PHIVOLCS showed continued volcanic activity, including five volcanic earthquakes and ongoing lava effusion recorded on Sunday. Four volcanic tremors lasting between one to three minutes were also observed.
From midnight Sunday up to midnight of Monday, the agency logged 411 rockfall events and four PDC signals, underscoring the volcano’s persistent unrest.
PHIVOLCS continues to closely monitor Mayon Volcano and has urged the public to remain vigilant and heed advisories from local authorities.