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By APD writer Melo M. Acuna
LEGAZPI CITY, March 29(APD) – Local government authorities in Albay Province allowed nearly 6,000 evacuees to return to their homes after scientists from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology lowered the alert level in the erstwhile restless 2,462-meter conical volcano called Mt. Mayon.
The latest Mayon Volcano bulletin released at midmorning Thursday said seismic activities for the past two weeks waned from a high of 82 to less than 10 rockfall events said to have come from the collapse of unstable lava flow deposits in the three drainage systems.
There were also low frequency earthquakes connected with magma degassing and short ash plumes last March 15 though there were low lava outflow were detected until Sunday, March 18.
PHIVOLCS authorities lowered the Alert Level on the 2,462 meter conical Mayon Volcano in Albay Province. The photo was taken at the Legazpi Airport. Photo by Melo M. Acuna
The statement revealed the volcanic degassing fluctuated within 500 to 2000 tons per day said to be lower than the 700 to 4500 tons per day within the January 13 to March 8 eruptive episodes.
The authorities did not detect new lava from the volcano’s summit while crater glow has turned to faint from intense during the eruptive episodes.
With all these considerations, they lowered Mayon Volcano’s status from Alert Level 3 which means “decreased tendency towards hazardous eruption” to Alert Level 2 which signifies the “cessation of eruptive activity” and decline to a moderate level of unrest.
PHIVOLCS scientists said the alert level lowering does not mean people would be allowed within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone.
In a related development, Dr. Cedric Daep, head of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) said foreign and local tourists are now allowed to visit the Mayon Resthouse some 3.8 kilometers from the crater.
“Tourists remain barred from going up to the crater and trekking into the lava front some 4.5 kms from the crater due to possible rockfall,” Dr. Daep said in an exclusive interview.
Certain invidiuals have been requested to stay behind to help clean the evacuation centers for school activities as most of the temporary shelters were public school classrooms spread across Albay Province.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
