Ash rained down on the towns of Camalig and Guinobatan Monday as Mayon Volcano released its largest pyroclastic density current (PDC) in weeks, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported.
A video posted on PHIVOLCS’ social media at 10:35 a.m. showed ash rising from the volcano and drifting across the Albay skies. The agency said the ash traveled about four kilometers from one of Mayon’s main pyroclastic channels, the Mi-isi gully.
PHIVOLCS has maintained Alert Level 3 at Mayon since Jan. 6, when a magmatic eruption sent PDCs down two kilometers from the crater. Under the alert scale, Level 3 indicates “relatively high unrest.” Residents are urged to avoid the six-kilometer permanent danger zone and stay alert in the extended danger zone.
Since seismic activity was first detected 34 days ago, Mayon has experienced multiple volcanic events. PHIVOLCS said the volcano currently emits an average of 1,799 tons of sulfur dioxide daily.