Manila Bulletin, Philippines : Mount Mayon shows signs of restiveness again, says Phivolcs

06/04/2003

Mount Mayon shows signs of restiveness again, says Phivolcs

By Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY — After a lull of two weeks, Mayon Volcano in Albay exploded anew at 6:59 a.m. Saturday, sending ash clouds up to 1.5 kilometers above the crater.

Helma Canon, resident volcanologist of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Ligñon Hill observatory here, said that their instruments detected three short-duration harmonic tremors and three low frequency volcanic quakes during the sudden ash explosion.

She said that despite the recent activity, Mayon's alert level is being maintained at level 1, which means "it is still under an abnormal condition."

Canon explained that Saturday's puffing contained less ashes compared to its ash explosion two weeks ago that also produced rumbling sounds heard some 15 kilometers away from its crater.

It may be recalled that Phivolcs raised Mayon's alert level from 0 to 1 after it suddenly exploded last March 17.

Similar ash puffing activities were also observed in January 30 and 31 this year.

Volcanologist at the observatory here are closely monitoring the recent activities of the world's most active volcano in order to find out whether its trend of abnormalities will follow that of the 2000-2001 eruption pattern.

Ed Laguerta, chief resident volcanologist, here said that the full-blown eruptions of Mayon in 2000-2001 were preceded by ash puffings then ash explosions. "We are monitoring if the same pattern again repeats itself but we cannot yet establish that pattern now," Laguerta pointed out.

He added that they are also monitoring whether there is an ongoing build up of new volcanic materials or merely an ejection of the remaining materials from the 2000-2001 eruption series.