Albay (CNN Philippines, June 8) — Residents near the Bicol International Airport in Daraga, Albay reported that ash from Mayon Volcano dusted their cars and pathways on Thursday morning.
Armel Alcantara of Purok 2, Barangay Gapo in Daraga, said his cars, plants and pathways were covered in ashes which he and his neighbors do not normally experience.
He expressed worry the ashfall may reach the airport and affect flights.
Alcantara said the volcano’s crater glow is getting more visible in the evening and early morning and is cascading downwards.
Paul Karson Alanis, resident volcanologist of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) in Legazpi City, said ashfall occurrence was possible since wind direction was southward.
He, however, did not confirm yet if the ashfall came from fresh volcanic spew or deposit from Mayon’s crater.
Alanis said ashfall, sudden phreatic eruption, and lahars are possible amid the volcano’s unrest.
Mayon is under Alert Level 2 or “Increased Unrest” category.
In its 8 a.m. bulletin on Thursday, Phivolcs said the Mayon Volcano Network logged 98 rockfall events based on seismic and visual observations in the past 24 hours.
“The rockfall events lasted 2-3 minutes and emplaced lava debris on the southern gullies within a kilometer from the summit crater,” the bulletin read. “Thin brownish ash from the rockfalls also drifted to the general south.”
“Continuous moderate degassing from the summit crater produced steam-laden plumes that were bent and drifted to the general south,” it added.
State volcanologists said emission of sulfur dioxide — a toxic gas which could severely irritate the respiratory tract, eyes, mucous membranes, and skin — was last measured at an average of 332 tons per day on Wednesday.
