Mount Mayon neighbors on evacuation alert

About 7,000 people living near Mount Mayon are put on evacuation alert — GMA News

According to the latest National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) report on Mayon’s activity issued on July 11, 2009, some 1,675 families or 6,996 persons will be evacuated from the 7-km Extended Danger Zone (EDZ), an area located on the SE flank of the volcano and the 6-km Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) areas, if the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raises the  Alert Level for the area from 2 to 3 (on a scale of 0-5).

Alert Level 3 is regarded as  “significant local eruption,” on Phivolcs’ five-level alert system.

Mayon

Country:  Philippines
Region: Luzon (Philippines)
Volcano Type: Stratovolcano
Last Known Eruption: 2008
Summit Elevation: 2,462 m
Latitude: 13.257°N
Longitude: 123.685°E
Source: Global Volcanism Program (GVP)

Beautifully symmetrical Mayon volcano, which rises to 2462 m above the Albay Gulf, is the Philippines’ most active volcano. The structurally simple volcano has steep upper slopes averaging 35-40 degrees that are capped by a small summit crater. The historical eruptions of this basaltic-andesitic volcano date back to 1616 and range from strombolian to basaltic plinian, with cyclical activity beginning with basaltic eruptions, followed by longer term andesitic lava flows. Eruptions occur predominately from the central conduit and have also produced lava flows that travel far down the flanks. Pyroclastic flows and mudflows have commonly swept down many of the approximately 40 ravines that radiate from the summit and have often devastated populated lowland areas. Mayon’s most violent eruption, in 1814, killed more than 1200 people and devastated several towns. Eruptions that began in February 2000 led PHIVOLCS to recommend on 23 February 2000 the evacuation of people within a radius of 7 km from the summit in the SE and within a 6 km radius for the rest of the volcano. Photo by Kurt Fredrickson, 1968 (Smithsonian Institution). Caption: GVP

Map of Major volcanoes of the Philippines

Alert Level stays at 2 for now

On Sunday, Phivolcs research specialist Rudy Lacson reportedly told GMANews.TV that there were no signs of volcanic activity that would warrant raising Mayon’s alert level.

“Three volcanic earthquakes were detected and a more ‘intense’ glow at the crater were observed within the past 24 hours, but Lacson said these signs were ‘normal’ for the volcano’s current status.” GMA said.

“Lacson said Phivolcs was still closely monitoring Mayon’s volcanic activity and advised people in the area to stay away from the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone.

“The provincial government earlier banned any human activity near the volcano after Phivolcs raised on Friday the alert level from 1 to 2 following an increase in abnormal activity in the past days.”

Phivolcs’ latest bulletin described Alert Level 2 as “a state of unrest which could lead to ash explosions or eventually to hazardous magmatic eruption.”

“Officials also advised 4,000 farmers who were keeping watch over crops within the permanent danger zone to return to their villages at night to avoid getting caught by surprise should the volcano erupt.” GMA said.

Mayon volcano, which last erupted in 2008, is considered to be the most active volcano in the Philippines.

FEWW moderators believe that the Philippines should brace itself for major waves of seismic and volcanic activities in the coming weeks, months and years..

Mount Mayon Photos:

A nighttime view from Legaspi City on September 14, 1984, shows incandescent lava flows descending the SW flank of Mayon volcano in the Philippines. The flows traveled about 4 km to the lower flanks of the volcano, adjacent to previous flows from eruptions in 1968 and 1978. Photo by Norm Banks, 1984 (U.S. Geological Survey). Caption: GVP.

The ‘Perfect’ Volcano

Mayon volcano in the Philippines is one of Earth’s best examples of a classic, conical stratovolcano. Its symmetrical morphology is the exception rather than the rule, and is the result of eruptions that are restricted to a single central conduit at the summit of the volcano. Eruptions are frequent enough at Mayon, the most active volcano in the Philippines, to overcome erosive forces that quickly modify the slopes of most volcanoes. Photo by Chris Newhall, 1993 (U.S. Geological Survey). Caption: GVP.

Pyroclastic Flows on Mt Mayon

Ash clouds rise above a pyroclastic flow traveling down the Buang valley on the upper NW flank of Mayon volcano in the Philippines on September 12, 1984. The toe of the advancing pyroclastic flow is visible at the lower right. These pyroclastic flows traveled down to 100 m elevation at rates of about 20 m/sec.  Photo by Olimpio Pena, 1984 (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology). Caption: GVP.

July 20, 2006 photo shows a phreatic explosion [ultravulcanian eruption, also described as steam-blast eruption]  occurring along the lower slopes as lava cascades down the 8,077-foot (2,462-meter) Mayon volcano in the central Bicol region in the Philippines. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, FILE). Image may be subject to copyright.

Related Links:

• FEWW Earthquake Links
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• FEWW Volcano Links

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