Phivolcs hints at lowering Mayon alert level to 2 in few weeks

A day after lowering the alert level for Mayon Volcano from “4" to “3," state seismologists hinted Sunday they may lower alert level further down to “2" in the next few weeks. But Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) head Renato Solidum Jr. said it is still too early to relax, and that residents should be ready if Mayon acts up again. “Yung ating tinitingnan, sakaling tuluy-tuloy ang pagbaba (ng activity), magbababa tayo ng alert level sa 2 sa mga susunod na linggo (If the volcano’s activity continues to decline, we may lower the alert level to 2 in the coming weeks)," Solidum said in an interview on dzBB. He said they will still have to observe the volcano for at least one more week. Under the Phivolcs’ classification, Alert Level 3 means magma is close to the crater, and eruption is possible within weeks. Alert Level 2 indicates unrest probably of magmatic origin and could eventually lead to eruption. On Saturday, Phivolcs lowered the alert level to “3" from “4," decreasing the area considered danger zones from 8 km to 6 km radius from the crater. However, the danger zone is at 7 km radius at the southeast portion of the Volcano. Solidum also reiterated his warning to residents and tourists not to get near the volcano’s danger zone, as rockfalls are still being recorded. “Nagkakahulog pa rin ang mga bato at may lava... at magkakaroon ng pyroclastic flows (Rocks and lava are still falling and there are still pyroclastic flows)," he said. “Kung sakaling magkaroon ng resurgence, siyempre ang kababayan natin ay dapat parating handa. Ang Mayon very active na volcano (If there is a resurgence of activity, we want our residents to be ready. Mayon is a very active volcano)," he added. Otherwise, he said there were few quakes and little bulging at the volcano, indicating magma is no longer going up the summit. - LBG, GMANews.TV