The foreboding eruption of Mayon Volcano in the Philippines led to the forced evacuation of over 6,000 residents living near the danger zone.
Rumbling Mayon Volcano Impels Mandatory Evacuation
For the past few days, Mayon Volcano (also known as Mount Mayon) has been showing a disturbance, inducing fear in villagers. As of this writing, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) recorded one volcanic earthquake and 177 rockfall incidents.
This mythical volcano with a “perfect cone” keeps having extreme unrest since raising its alert level on Thursday. The volcano’s crater glows with an increased edifice, producing 1,205 tonnes of sulfur dioxide. Moreover, it spewed average amounts of plumes, shifting east.
According to Mayon Volcano Observatory resident volcanologist Dr Paul Alanis, the volcano formed a new lava dome. This makes the lava flow more easily, which could create a new eruption phase.
Due to the volcanic activity, PHIVOLCS warned the public not to enter the six-kilometre radius of the permanent danger zone. Additionally, no aircraft must fly near the crater or the volcano itself. Nonstop heavy rains can cause rockfalls, ballistic fragments, landslides, pyroclastic density currents, and lava flows and lava fountaining, to name a few.
Declaring a State of Calamity
The continuous agitation of Mount Mayon prompts the authorities to declare a state of calamity. Monsoon rains due to Typhoon Guchol dumped heavy rains, causing lahar, rockfalls, mud floods, and more. The sludge can devastate crop fields, plantations, business establishments, and homes.
Albay is now in a state of calamity, allowing for faster disbursement of emergency funds should there be a major eruption. Governor Edcel Greco Lagman ensures that there will be no casualties from any associated calamities.
Recognized worldwide as the most perfect volcanic cone because of its symmetrical shape, Mayon Volcano has a base of 80 miles wide. It rises 8,077 from Albay Gulf shores.
It last erupted in 2018, killing and displacing thousands of people and animals and destroying livelihood. Its most catastrophic explosion was in 1814, burying Cagsawa town and killing nearly 1,200 people.
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