Mayon volcano. Photo courtesy of Camalig Information Office.
Mayon Volcano released a grayish ash plume that rose about 500 meters above its summit Thursday morning as the volcano continued to show signs of unrest despite remaining under Alert Level 2.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said a weak ash explosion occurred at 9 a.m., with monitoring cameras capturing the plume as it drifted east-northeast.
The event came as Phivolcs recorded 26 volcanic earthquakes during its latest 24-hour monitoring period.
Mayon also emitted 5,937 tons of sulfur dioxide on Wednesday, higher than the 5,052 tons measured a day earlier.
Alert Level 2 remains in effect over the volcano, indicating decreased unrest but with the possibility of sudden volcanic activity.
Phivolcs maintained its ban on entry into Mayon’s six-kilometer permanent danger zone and warned pilots against flying close to the volcano.
Residents near Mayon were also advised to remain alert for steam-driven or phreatic eruptions, rockfalls and landslides. Lahars may also occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall.
Mayon has been under Alert Level 2 since Aug. 5, when Phivolcs lowered its status from Alert Level 3. The higher alert level had been in place since Jan. 6 following increased seismic activity.