LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 5 --- Mayon volcano's edifice continues to swell, signs that magma is still building up, which is an indication that the volcano's state of unrest might lead to a major eruption, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) told the Philippines News Agency, Thursday.
Based on ground deformation survey using the Precise Leveling results, Mt. Mayon's Buang Leveling Line indicates that overall, the volcano remains inflated by 9.0mm since the February 2008 baseline data, while the Lidong Levelling Line maintained a 5.0-mm swelling since October 2007.
Phivolcs scientists are closely monitoring the volcano's abnormalities displayed by fluctuating incidence of volcanic quakes, sulfur gas emissions, building of a lava dome at the crater rim, crater glow, ash explosion and bulging of the volcano's edifice.
Phivolcs said these parameters are manifestations that the volcano is on heightened restiveness that may lead to a hazardous magmatic eruption.
Phivolcs seismic networks at the Lignon Hill observatory detected six high and low frequency earthquakes on Wednesday, bringing to a total of 110 volcanic quakes recorded in a week.
Scientists observed that Sulfur Dioxide gas emitted by the volcano continues to swing ranging from 252 to 206 tons per day the past three days. Instruments, however, failed to read sulfur gas emission rate on Wednesday because of cloudy skies on top of the volcano.
Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rains spawned by the Northeast monsoon affecting Luzon and the Visayas region pelted for several hours Albay province, causing volcanic debris to cascade down the volcano's slopes and floodwaters and submerged portions of the Maharlika Highway in the town of Camalig, and barangay Padang this city.
Government engineers were quick to clear the major road networks with lahar and other debris, causing traffic to smoothly flow.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol on Thursday issued a General Flood Advisory raising alert status in areas prone to floods, lahar and landslides. These areas are Cadacan and Matnog rivers in Sorsogon; Cabuyan, Bato and Pajo rivers in Catanduanes, and Mt. Mayon volcano slopes and river channels in Albay.
The OCD advisory directed all local disaster coordinating councils in this areas to be on heightened alert for possible lahar, floods and landslides brought by moderate to heavy rains.
Mt. Mayon alert status remains at Alert Level 2, meaning the volcano is still on a state of unrest and ash explosions or eventually hazardous magmatic eruption may occur anytime.
Military and police personnel manning the 12 checkpoints surrounding the volcano will keep the off limits regulation strictly enforced in the 6-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone and the 7-km Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) on the southeast flank of the volcano due to the threat from sudden explosions and rockfalls from the upper slopes.
Residents near active river channels and those areas perennially identified as lahar prone in the southeast sector are advised to be on alert during heavy and prolonged rainfall. (PNA)