Mayon alert level downgraded to 1

State volcanologists on Tuesday morning lowered the alert level of Mayon Volcano from two to one. In an advisory posted on its Web site, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) explained that alert level one meant that eruption was no longer imminent. The six-kilometer radius danger zone, however, will remain off limits to public due to the continuing threat from sudden small explosions and rock falls. "Active river channels and those areas perennially identified as lahar prone in the southeast sector should also be avoided especially during bad weather conditions or when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall," the advisory read. According to Phivolcs, the number of Mayon's volcanic earthquakes is already within the normal level of zero to four quakes a day. Volcanic tremors associated with magma movement within have likewise become "scarce and sometimes not recorded at all," it added. Phivolcs said that while the crater glow of the Mayon Volcano remained at intensity II, it does not indicate any re-intensification. "Steam emission was most of the time weak and passively rising from the summit crater," the advisory read. At the same time, Mayon also showed a deflated volcano edifice which indicates the absence of fresh magma supply. Its sulfur dioxide emission rate since January 13 up to March has consistently ranged from 110 to 2,021 tonnes which is consistent with its post eruptive gas emission rate. - Aie Balagtas See/KBK, GMANews.TV