After a brief lull, Mayon volcano in Albay province grew restive again and state volcanologists said they recorded at least six explosions before dawn Sunday. Volcanologists said the volcano is “behaving dangerously” similar to what happened in 1984 when it went silent for a week after a three-week unrest. In the 1984 incident, people had begun returning to their home within the danger zones when it quaked and exploded suddenly, killing many people. Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Director Renato Solidum Jr. reminded residents not to be lulled into a “false sense of security” and return to their homes within the 8-kilometer danger zone. He said the volcano's momentary silence did not mean the threat that it may explode has weaned. Ash explosions could not be seen from afar due to thick clouds that cover Mayon's crater. “Do not become complacent. The people only see what is coming out of the crater and that is often cloud covered. It is not just the observed phenomenon that matters. We also look at the quakes, the gas emitted and the swelling of the volcano,” said Solidum. “We are telling the people, ‘do not just count the number of quakes or what you see from the crater.' It may look calm but it is not calm. It can still explode,” he warned in a radio broadcast. “You might think it is taking a break but the volcano is still swelling,” he said after the restive volcano emitted fewer ash emissions Sunday than in previous days. He said that while the amount of lava coming out of the volcano had fallen, the magma inside Mayon was still rising, possibly indicating that the volcano was clogged. He said volcanic activities are going on inside Mayon's cavern that the volcano remains “dangerously restive.” He said Phivolcs reported that Mayon emitted until 10 A.M. Sunday a huge quantify of sulfur dioxide of 2,378 tons. He described the volcano as “swollen” and that volcanologists recorded another rise in volcanic activity with “six minor explosions” in the early morning Sunday. He added that Mayon has belched out red, hot lava into the air as high as one kilometer from its maw. Phivolcs's latest bulletin recorded 125 rumbling and thunderous sounds that can be heard near the slopes of the volcano. Its seismic apparatus has also detected 871 volcanic earthquakes. There had also been 98 incidents of rocks falling unto the slopes after they became detachment from molten lava, according to Phivolcs report. Solidum said pyroclastic flows – combination of hot gas and red, molten rocks – have been visible within two kilometers from the crater.
