MANILA, Philippines – Mayon Volcano in the province of Albay was placed on “Alert Level 3” on Monday evening, September 15, after showing signs of “relatively high unrest,” the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said.
In a bulletin issued at 10:00 pm, PHIVOLCS observed 39 rockfall events from 5:00 am to 8:00 pm on September 15, symptoms of the build-up of magma at the summit dome. At least 32 low frequency volcanic earthquakes were also recorded, indicating magma intrusion or volcanic gas activity.
PHIVOLCS-DOST raised the alert status of Mayon Volcano from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 3 which is equivalent to a “Critical Alert” in the agency’s 5-level alert system. This means that the volcano is exhibiting relatively high unrest, magma is at the crater, and that an eruption is possible within weeks.
Phivolcs previously raised Alert Level 2 for Mayon, an active volcano located in the southern part of Luzon Island, on August 15.
The agency called for the strict enforcement of the 6-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) around the volcano and the 7-kilometer Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) on the southeasern flank.
At 11:00 pm on Monday, Albay Governor Joey Salceda and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office ordered the forced evacuation of all settlers inside the PDZ.
The provincial government has also ordered other contingency plans to proceed, including the evacuation of the 10,000 families in the 6-8-kilometer Extended Danger Zone.
新华网马尼拉９月１６日电（记者王文）菲律宾阿尔拜省政府１６日宣布，由于当地马荣火山活动日渐频繁，政府将于当天疏散火山附近６０个村落的约１万户家庭。
菲律宾火山及地震研究院１５日发布公告，将马荣火山喷发警戒级别调高至３级，称该火山可能在数周内喷发。公告还说，从当地时间１５日早５时至晚８时，该院共监测到３２次地震和３９次落石。
研究院建议将火山周围半径６公里的范围划为危险区域，在火山东南方向将危险区域范围半径扩大至１３公里。
该院一名负责人说，目前最令人担心的是火山喷发带来的火山碎屑流。由于运动速度快，碎屑流易造成巨大人员伤亡。一旦马荣火山喷发，周边的黎牙实比市、利高市和塔瓦科市都有可能受到火山碎屑流的侵袭。
马荣火山位于菲律宾吕宋岛东南部的阿尔拜省，是菲境内最活跃的火山之一，过去４００年间喷发了５０次之多，有记录的喷发活动有４８次，其中破坏最严重的一次是在１８１４年，导致约１２００人丧生。近年来该火山颇为活跃，曾多次濒临喷发。２０１３年５月，马荣火山小规模喷发致５人死亡。