Mayon still shows erratic behavior

04 September 2006

LEGAZPI CITY—FEWER VOLCANIC earthquakes and a decrease in sulfur dioxide emission rate during the past 24 hours did not necessarily mean a decline in the activity of Mayon volcano as sudden changes in its behavior really happen from time to time, volcanologists said yesterday.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded nine volcanic earthquakes compared to the previous day’s 31, while sulfur dioxide emission rate was 2,021 tons per day compared to the previous 6,585.

Tremor episodes remained high and indicated the continuous flow of glowing lava and detaching lava blocks from the main lava flow.

These were observed rolling and cascading towards the southeast sector of the volcano, Phivolcs said.

Alert level 4 has remained hoisted as the probability of explosion was still high, it added. Ephraim Aguilar, Inquirer Southern Luzon