The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Friday, Dec. 8, announced that it downgraded the status of Mayon Volcano to Alert Level 2 from Alert Level 3 or a decreased tendency towards hazardous eruption.

In a notice, Phivolcs said it has “recorded a general decline” in Mayon Volcano's unrest, citing specifically at the diminishing seismic activity, summit and lava flow observation, and ground deformation.

The state seismologists said Mayon Volcano's volcanic earthquake, rockfalls, and pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) "has significantly diminished, resulting in the cessation of lava effusion from the crater and lava collapse-driven rockfall and PDC activity.”

"Visual and camera monitoring of the Mayon edifice recorded lessening incandescence of the summit crater and of the 2023 lava flow deposits since last week of November 2023 [...] The stabilization and diminishing incandescence of lava deposits at the summit and depositional gullies are consistent with the cessation of magma supply to the summit crater,” Phivolcs added.

It also cited that “pressurization of the Mayon edifice has abated in the past month” and that sulfur dioxide emission "exposed on the crater and slopes and from the volcano's magma is diminishing.”

The state seismologist, however, noted that the public should not interpret the lowering of the alert as a cease of Mayon volcano's unrest, “considering that the edifice is still inflated and SO2 [sulfur dioxide] emission remains high relative baseline."

"The public is strongly advised to be vigilant and desist from entering the six-kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) to minimize risks from sudden explosions, rockfalls, and landslides," it said.

On June 8 this year, Phivolcs raised raised Alert Level 3 over the majestic Mayon after it exhibited “a magmatic eruption of a summit lava dome with increased chances of lava flows."

On the same day, the provincial government of Albay on Thursday ordered a mandatory pre-emptive evacuation of residents living inside the six-kilometer radius of PDZ.