(Eagle News) — An alert level 3 was hoisted over Mt. Mayon in Albay on Sunday night.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the this was after the volcano was seen to be in a ” noticeably increased unrest.”
“After three phreatic eruptions and 158 rockfall events between 4:21 p.m. (January 13) and 7:25 p.m. (January 14), Mayon’s summit crater is now exhibiting bright crater glow that signifies the growth of a new lava dome and beginnings of lava flow towards the southern slopes,” PHIVOLCS said.
According to PHIVOLCS, this means that “magma is at the crater and that hazardous eruption is possible within weeks or days.”
“It is therefore recommended that the 6-kilometer radius permanent danger zone and a 7-kilometer extended danger zone on the southern flank be enforced due to the danger of rockfalls, landslides and sudden explosions or dome collapse that may generate hazardous volcanic flows,” PHIVOLCS said.
It said that civil authorities should also advise pilots against flying near the volcano’s summit.
“Based on the seasonal wind pattern, ashfall events may most likely occur in the southwest side of the volcano,” it said.