Volcano UPDATE: Mt Mayon Could Explode
Posted by feww on December 17, 2009
Mayon: What might happen next
After an explosive eruption, the “perfect cone” could disappear partially or altogether
A major hazardous eruption could lead to large explosions destroying Mt Mayon. The erupting volcano could empty its magma chamber causing the much-admired “perfect cone” edifice to collapse into its depleted reservoir, and forming a caldera.
BEFORE: Mayon volcano, located in a coconut-growing region of the central Philippines, is famed for its near-perfect cone shape. Mt Mayon. Credit: Lozaphilippines. Image may be subject to copyright.
AFTER: If Mt Mayon edifice collapses into the magma chamber, the after image may look like the above. [The snow cover is less likely right now.] Photo shows Aniakchak Caldera in the Aleutian Range, Alaska. This 10 km diameter caldera formed about 3,450 years ago. Many smaller cinder cones have formed within the caldera. Credit: USGS
Mayon UPDATE:
As Mayon Volcano continued to eject 500-m plumes of ash into air, spewing lava down its slopes for a third day, and burning rocks, mud and everything else in its path, PHIVOLCS vulcanologists said they expected a major explosive eruption soon.
Up to 50,000 people have been or are about to be evacuated from Mayon’s danger zones and neighboring areas, Philippines Defense Secretary said in a news conference.
Many villagers are reluctant to live because its seasonal harvest time for their crops. They are staying put despite th eregional government threat of martial law.
PHIVOLCS, whose computer network is off the internet when there’s a crisis, as is the case right now, was reported ass saying it had recorded at least five minor explosions at the volcano on Wednesday, and 80 “high frequency quakes” in the last 24 hours.
For previous updates see:
- Mayon Lava in Interesting Times!
- Mayon Volcano Oozes Lava
- Strong Earthquake Strikes Mindanao, Philippines
- VolcanoWatch Weekly [11 Nov 2009]
- Latest From TAAL and other Philippines Volcanoes
- Mount Mayon neighbors on evacuation alert
- Mayon Volcano Ejects Ash
Related Links:
Fire Earth 
aku said
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Mayon Volcano Update [31 December 2009] « Fire Earth said
[…] Volcano UPDATE: Mt Mayon Could Explode […]
Mayon Volcano Update [29 December 2009] « Fire Earth said
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Mayon Volcano Update [28 December 2009] « Fire Earth said
[…] Volcano UPDATE: Mt Mayon Could Explode […]
Mayon Alert Raised to Level 4 « Fire Earth said
[…] Volcano UPDATE: Mt Mayon Could Explode […]
feww said
Farmers return to erupting Philippine volcano: govt
(AFP) – 2 hours ago
LEGASPI, Philippines — Farmers have begun returning to the foothills of the Philippines’ most active volcano despite an increasing flow of lava from the mountain, officials said Friday.
The picturesque Mayon volcano continued to spout spectacular fountains of ash into the sky amid a series of minor eruptions, heightening concerns that a major explosion could occur at any time.
Earthquakes inside Mayon also increased due to the enormous pressure of the ever-increasing amount of lava on its slopes, according to the government’s volcanology institute.
“The important thing is that people should not be in those danger zones when a hazardous explosion happens,” said chief government volcanologist Renato Solidum.
The so-called danger zone is a radius of six to eight kilometres (3.5 to five miles) from Mayon, and nearly 50,000 people have been evacuated from those areas since the volcano began spewing lava on Monday.
But the zone is a fertile vegetable farming area and many people from the evacuated villages have been creeping back to look after their crops and animals.
“There is nothing we can do except to keep taking them out when we find them in the danger zone,” said Joey Salceda, governor of Albay province where Mayon is located.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the alert level to three for Mayon on Monday.
Level three means an eruption is likely in the very near future. The scale runs from one to five, with five meaning a hazardous eruption is occurring.
Despite the increased activity on Friday, the volcanology institute said there was no need to raise the alert level to four.
Mayon, which is about 330 kilometres (200 miles) southeast of Manila, has erupted 48 times since records began, claiming thousands of lives.
However the 2,460-metre (8,070-feet) volcano remains a popular tourist attraction, and is particularly famous for its perfect cone.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.
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2K families near Mayon forcibly evacuated
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/179676/2k-families-near-mayon-forcibly-evacuated
feww said
Curfew to be enforced in Mayon danger zones
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=533603&publicationSubCategoryId=63
Major eruption for Mayon likely – volcanologist
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/8015-major-eruption-for-mayon-likely–volcanologist
feww said
Forced evacuations around Mayon Volcano
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=533431
VolcanoWatch Weekly [17 Dec 2009] « Fire Earth said
[…] Volcano UPDATE: Mt Mayon Could Explode […]
feww said
Albay issues ultimatum on Mayon residents’ evacuation
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/179595/albay-issues-ultimatum-on-mayon-residents-evacuation