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THE alert at Mayon volcano in Albay might be raised to Level 5 in the next few days because of the continuing trend of increasing volcanic activities, the Philippine Institute on Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said yesterday.

"We are observing the volcano for more intensified lava fountaining followed by a tall voluminous eruption ash column with collapse pyroclastic flow and occurrence of perceptible quakes," said Jaime Sincioco, officer-in-charge of Phivolcs’ Volcano Monitoring Division. "These are the ‘critical signs’ that we are waiting before officially raising the status to Level 5."

Level 5 means hazardous eruption is ongoing.

According to the Phivolcs website, this also means occurrence of pyroclastic flows, tall eruption columns and extensive ashfall. Pyroclastic flows may sweep down along gullies and channels, especially along those fronting the low parts of the crater rim.

Sincioco said there are still no surface manifestations like voluminous eruption columns that could cause hazardous pyroclastic flows and perceptible earthquakes.

When loud explosions are heard and earthquakes near the volcano are felt by residents in Legazpi, that would be the right time to hoist alert Level 5, he said.

Sincioco said the recorded earthquakes and harmonic tremors were detected only by seismographs and not felt.

In the past 24-hour monitoring period (7 a.m. Monday to 7 a.m. Tuesday), Mayon continued to show an intense level of activity.

The seismic network recorded a total of 1,266 volcanic earthquakes.

Many of these volcanic earthquakes were recorded at maximum deflection and have continuously occurred since 12:21 p.m. Sunday. Harmonic tremors were still continuously being recorded.

Sulfur dioxide emission rate remained very high and was measured at an average of 6,529 tons per day on Monday.

Phivolcs said visual observation was hampered by thick clouds covering the upper and middle slopes of the volcano since 6 a.m. Monday. However, an intensified crater glow was observed during a short cloud break Monday night.

Phivolcs said audible booming and rumbling sounds were still being intermittently heard.

It said red hot lava also continuously flowed down along the Bonga-Buyuan, Miisi and Lidong gullies.

The lava front has reached about 5 kilometers downslope from the summit along the Bonga-Buyuan gully.

Phivolcs reiterated the extended danger zone of eight kilometers from the summit at the southern sector and seven km at northern sector should be free from human activity because of sudden explosions that may generate hazardous volcanic flows.

Areas outside of the extended danger zone should also be prepared for evacuation.

With the imminent eruption, the health department place health facilities in the Bicol region on blue alert.

Under blue alert, medical personnel will be on duty 24 hours a day while hospitals and community health units should be prepared to accept patients at all times.

Aside from preparing the medical facilities, the DOH also augmented supplies of drugs, facemasks and medicines to affected areas, and replenished pre-positioned medicines.

Health personnel also began to conduct psychosocial debriefing both for those affected and responders.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said his department has constructed 12 disaster-resistant buildings in Bicol, which can withstand severe weather condition. Three of these are now being used as evacuation centers.

Fourteen schools in five towns (Camalig, Daraga, Guinobatan, Malilipot, and Sto. Domingo), are used as evacuation centers, five in Legazpi City, six in Tabaco City, and two in Ligao City.

The Department of Public Works and Highways said it completed road maintenance activities like ditch cleaning and asphalt patching in Bicol to ensure delivery of relief goods.

Free from obstructions and open to traffic are Maharlika highway from boundary Milaor-San Fernando-Tara, Sipocot to the boundary of Camarines Sur; Andaya highway in Camarines Norte from Tara-Sipocot to boundary Del Gallego-Tagcawayan, Quezon; two secondary national roads in Danao-Pasacao road section; and the Sipocot-Barcelonita road.

DPWH Secretary Victor Domingo said Maharlika and Andaya highways connect the Bicol region to Metro Manila and are the main routes of joint relief operations of the national, local and non- government agencies. – With Gerard Naval, Ashzel Hachero and Genivi Factao

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