DOST-PHIVOLCS reported that Mayon Volcano “crater glow,” which was observed Tuesday, could be a precursor to a new eruptive activity.
The agency posted on its Tweeter account, “#MayonVolcano crater glow observed at the summit. Photos taken on February 4 2020, 7:00 PM at the Mayon Volcano Observatory, Ligñon Hill, Legazpi City.”
Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum explained Mayon’s crater glow was brought by a charge of molten rocks rising towards its crater.
“Magma usually solidifies. However, it will glow if the volcano is about to have another eruptive activity,” he said.
“Mayroon iyan pamumula ng bulkan o crater glow at minsan iyong crater niya, may pag-umbok na mapapansin bago magsimula ng panibagong eruptive activity,” Solidum told radio DZMM.
(There was a crater glow, and sometimes, we can observe that its crater will swell before it begins a new eruptive activity.)
“Inoobserbahan natin kung talagang mayroong bagong aktibidad ang volcano,” he added.
(We are observing whether or not the volcano has a new activity.)
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Mayon volcano ‘crater glow’ could be precursor to eruptive activity, alert level 2 remains
Mayon Volcano’s last eruption was on January 13, 2018. The volcano had a phreatic eruption occurred that propelled a grayish steam and ash plume approximately 2500 meters high that drifted to the southwest side of the volcano.
Its eruption activity lasted approximately 1 hour and 47 minutes, and traces of ash fell in barangays near Mayon.
Residents of Camalig town rightly noted the sulfuric odor. Residents also heard rumbling sounds of Brgy. Anoling, Daraga, and rockfall events were intermittently recorded. Faint crater glow was first observed at 10:16 PM.
The event prompted PHIVOLCS-DOST to raise the Alert Level of Mayon Volcano from Alert Level 1 (abnormal) to Alert Level 2 (increasing unrest).