After weeks of relative calm, state volcanologists lowered the alert level of restive Mayon Volcano in Bicol to “2” Wednesday morning. But the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned residents against being complacent as the unrest of the volcano has not ceased. “This means a further reduction in the likelihood of hazardous eruption. However, the lowering of the alert level from 3 to 2 should not be interpreted that the unrest of the volcano has ceased. If there is resurgence in the volcano's activity, the alert level may be raised back to 3 but if there is noticeable downward trend in the monitored parameters, then the alert will be lowered to Alert Level 1,” it said in its 7 A.M. bulletin. Alert Level 2 means moderate unrest, with low to moderate level of seismic activity and episodes of tremor and increasing sulfur dioxide flux. Under Alert Level 2, the 6-km radius danger zone may be extended to 7 km in the area where the crater rim is low.
