31 August 2006
LEGAZPI CITY—The sulfur dioxide (S02) emission rate at Mayon Volcano abruptly increased to 9,733 tons yesterday from Tuesday’s 3,864 tons.
The volcano’s S02 emission is one of the parameters being monitored by volcanologists to establish a potential eruption.
Mayon’s normal S02 emission rate is pegged at 500 tons daily.
The abrupt increase in the S02 emission rate was due to the degassing of magma after the two series of explosions recorded during the 24-hour observation period, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
The two explosions that occurred at 8:58 a.m. and 1:47 p.m. on Tuesday produced grayish 500-meter-high ash clouds from the summit, which drifted west-northwest.
Phivolcs said 16 volcanic earthquakes indicated the continuous movement of magma up the volcano.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council said the number of people at the evacuation centers in the province dropped by 25 percent.
As of yesterday, evacuees numbered 32,758 persons from Friday’s 43,676, the agency said. Ephraim Aguilar, Inquirer Southern Luzon
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