The volcano showed a very dramatic activity today.
A heavy block-and-ash flow (gravity-driven mass flow) descended from the summit lava dome along the steep southern Mi-si ravine that reached considerable distance of about 4000 meters. The pyroclastic flow created a dense grey ash plume (so-called phoenix cloud) that rose about 200 meters above the torrent, engulfing a broad southern part of the edifice as it descended the slope.
The reason for this flow was presumably a destabilization of the lava dome resulting in the partial collapse.
Pyroclastic flows are deadly, turbulent hot avalanches of lava rock fragments of all sizes embedded in a mixture of turbulent gas and ash racing down slopes.
Two main lava flows arms on the southern Mi-si and southeastern Bonga ravine continue to be active, currently 2.7 km and 1.3 km long.
Near-constant emissions of steam-laden plumes (so-called degassing) rose 500 meters above the summit and drifted north and northeast. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions reached to a 5692 tonnes on 2 July.
The short-term electronic tilt monitoring continues to detect the 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 3 July 2023
Mayon about 10 hours ago….Time lapse made from Joey Sarte Salceda’s livestream on FB #MayonVolcano #Mayon #volcano #volcan #eruption #Philippines #timelapse #bulkang #bulkangmayon pic.twitter.com/lHvolugBEv
— Volcaholic (@volcaholic1) July 3, 2023