Mayon volcano (Luzon Island, Philippines): eruption continues with two main lava flow arms

Two lava flow branches traveling over the Mi-si and Bonga gorges (image: jaime s. sincioco)

The activity of the volcano continues at elevated levels.

The viscous lava on the southern Mi-si and southeastern Bonga gorges continues to keep the flow active by emerging from the summit lava dome. The main lava flow front has already reached approx. 1500 meters distance from the main vent.

Five incandescent dome-block avalanches reached considerable distance of about 3,3 km from the crater by emanating from the lava dome reported today.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions (degassing) reached to a 889 tonnes yesterday.

The short-term electronic tilt monitoring continues to detect the middle and upper southeastern slopes inflated since February this year. However, the long-term ground deformation suggests the ongoing uplifting of the edifice, on the northwestern and southeastern slopes in particular, since 2020.

In order to mitigate the risk, people are forbidden to enter an area of 6 km distance from the summit crater due to impacts of rockfalls, pyroclastic falls and/or phreatic eruptions.

The alert level for the volcano remains at Level 3.

Source: Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology volcano activity update 19 June 2023

Slow lava effusion from the summit lava dome at Mayon volcano on 18 June (source: PHIVOLCS)