Mayon Volcano’s crater may collapse, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned on Monday.
Phivolcs-Bicol chief volcanologist Ed Laguerta said that during Sunday’s aerial survey, they have observed that the volcano’s condensed lava dome is getting larger and is now almost even with its crater. Laguerta also cited a noticeable crack on both sides of the dome that might cause the possible collapse.
“As the lava dome solidifies, the weaker part of crater wall might collapse due to explosion and this scenario could cause scattered pyroclastic flow all around the volcano. This is very dangerous once occurs specifically if the evacuees keep on returning to no man’s land zone,” Laguerta said in a report on The Manila Times.
“Mayon Volcano has a lot of characteristics compared to other volcanoes. It could erupt strombolian type, an episode that heals to perfect her shape like a facelift or a vulcanian type this is very hazardous because of pyroclastic flow but the worst eruption is plinian type like the 1814 and 1897 episode of eruptions,” Laguerta explained.
Phivolcs raised Mayon’s Alert Level to 3 last Sept. 15.
Government troops and the local government are preparing for massive evacuation of around 12,000 people living in the southeast quadrant of Mayon should Alert Level 4 be raised.
