MANILA: The alert status over the Mayon Valcano in Bicol Region has been raised to Alert Level 2 following its intensified restiveness due to the magmatic movement.
Reports in Manila Times said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs) confirmed the presence of freshly extruded lava at the base of the summit lava dome.
This was based on its ocular inspection during an aerial survey conducted on Friday.
The event was signalled only by observations of thin re-mobilized light-coloured ash, likely derived from lava fragmentation during the extrusion process, it said.
"In view thereof, Phivolcs is raising the Alert Level of Mayon Volcano from Alert Level 1 (abnormal) to Alert Level 2 (increasing unrest)," the agency said.
The agency said this meant there was unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes that could eventually lead to phreatic eruptions or even precede hazardous magmatic eruption.
Phivolcs said since the alert status level was raised from Alert Level 0 to Alert Level 1 on August 21, 2022, monitored parametres have been generally unremarkable.
As of Oct. 4, 2022, the lava dome has increased in volume by approximately 48,000 cubic metres since August 20, 2022, Phivolcs said.
"Precise levelling, continuous GPS (global positioning system) and electronic tilt monitoring show that Mayon has been slightly inflated, especially on the northwest and southeast. Lastly, sulphur dioxide emission last measured on October 1, 2022, averaged 391 tons per day below baseline levels," it explained.
As a reminder, Phivolcs strongly advised the public to be vigilant and desist from entering the six-kilometre radius permanent danger zone to minimize risks from sudden explosions, rock fall and landslides.
According to The Times, Phivolcs said that it maintains close monitoring of the volcano and any new development will be communicated to all concerned stakeholders.
In case of ash fall events that may affect communities downwind of Mayon's crater, people should cover their nose and mouth with damp, clean cloth or dust mask. Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano's summit as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.
The last eruption of Mayon Volcano took place in 2018.