The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Wednesday issued a notice to airmen which barring aircrafts from flying and operating near Mayon Volcano in Albay due to the monitored increase in its activities.
In an advisory, CAAP said the Notice to Air Missions (NAOTM) is effective today, Wednesday and will expire at 6:20 AM on September 21.
The agency is specifically prohibiting pilots to fly up to 11,000 feet from the surfaces of the Mayon.
CAAP issued the advisory after Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Director Teresito Bacolcol confirmed to DZRH that the Mayon Volcano has emitted four Pryoclastic Density Currents (PDCs) on Wednesday morning.
Dr. Teresito Bacolcol, Director, Phivolcs, sa latest update ng Mayon Volcano: Yung nareport kahapon pyroclastic density currents collapse lang yun. In fact meron na tayon 4 since 5am kanina #DamdamingBayan#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) September 20, 2023
LIVE: : https://t.co/aeatn0DQQG pic.twitter.com/exeorITCWy
"Yung na-report kahapon pyroclastic density currents, collapse lang 'yun. In fact meron na tayong 4 [PDCs] since 5am kanina. Ito lang yung mag nadi-disludge na mga volcanic materials na galing sa crater. Na-record namin na sulfur dioxide ay 870 tons per day lang, mas mababa sa 959 tons per day the previous day," he said.
In its 8 AM bulletin, Phivolcs said the lava flows have advanced 3.4 kilometers in southeastern Bonga gully, 2.8 kilometers in south Mi-si gully, and 1.1 kilometers in eastern Basud gully.
Meanwhile, rockfalls and PDCs generated by collapses of the lava flow margins as well as of the summit dome deposited debris are still within four kilometers from the crater.
Alert Level 3 is maintained over Mayon, which means that it is currently at a relatively high level of unrest and that a hazardous eruption within weeks or even days could still be possible.
