FILE PHOTO: Continuous lava emitted by Mayon Volcano at the Bonga gully is visible in this photo taken on Sept. 24 at Barangay Bonga in Legazpi City. 鈥擩OHN MICHAEL L. MANJARES/CONTRIBUTOR
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The state seismologists bureau reported 鈥渇requent incandescent rockfall and numerous pyroclastic density current (PDC) events鈥� in the Mayon volcano鈥檚 Miisi and Bonga Gullies.
These were results of 鈥渋ncreased lava effusion鈥� from the volcano鈥檚 summit crater, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) in a post on the social media platform 鈥淴鈥� on Tuesday night.
According to Phivolcs Science Research Specialist II Eric Arconado, more than 220 rockfall events were recorded from 5 a.m. on Tuesday to 5 a.m. on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, 53 PCDs and 40 tremors were also detected during the same period.
These are higher compared to two PCD and 98 rockfall events observed by the Mayon Volcano Network from Monday to Tuesday.
READ: Phivolcs: Mayon volcano sulfur dioxide emissions show slight uptick
READ: Bulusan Volcano shows signs of unrest
Despite these recorded data, Arconado said there is no need for residents living near the volcano to panic, as this type of increased PCD and rockfall events happen occasionally.
鈥淔rom June naman nangyayari ito from time to time [high number of PCD and rockfall events], basta continuous lang 鈥榶ung lava effusion, so maintaining alert level 3 pa rin po kami sa Mayon,鈥� Arconado told in a phone interview.
(This [high number of rockfall events] has been happening occasionally since June; the lava effusion is just continuous, so we are still maintaining alert level 3 in Mayon.)
鈥淎ctually, mayroon nga tayong mga rockfalls before na nasa 300,鈥� he added.
(Actually, we have had rock falls before, which were around 300.)
Alert level 3 was first raised over Mayon volcano on June 8, indicating an elevated risk of a hazardous eruption.