LOCATION:
ALBAY PROVINCE, 300 km SE of Manila (13°15.4'N - 123°41.1'E)
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Height:
2,460 m asl
Base Circumference: 62.8 km (reckoned from 10-km
radius) encompassing the towns of Camalig,
Malilipot and Sto.
Domingo
Type of Volcano: Stratovolcano or Composite
Volcano, composed of a sequence of pyroclastic and
lava flows
Areas: 314.1 kmē (estimated from 62.8 km base
circumference)
Composition of Lava: Andesitic
HISTORICAL ERUPTIONS:
No. of Recorded
Eruptions: 47 since 1616
Latest Eruption: 24 June & 26 July 2001 (Strombolian
& Vulcanian types)
Most Destructive Eruption: 01 February 1814; 1,200
people perished due to lahars
Eruption Types:
Strombolian - quiet emission of lava (e.g.
1978, 1st phase of 1984 eruption)
Vulcanian - violent explosions and eruptions
of pyroclastic flows
(e.g. 1st phase of 1968
eruption, 2nd phase of 1984 eruption)
Plinian - extremely violent explosions with
continous sustained ejection of pyroclasts
(e.g. 1814 eruption)
Precursors to Eruptions:
Increase in seismicity level (Background: 0-10
volcanic quakes per day)
Ground tilt due to magma
intrusion
Change in color of steam emission from white
to gray due to entrained ash
Increase in the volume of steam
emission
Crater glow due to presence of magma at or
near the crater
Rumbling sounds because of gas
explosion
Rockfalls and landslides caused by the rising
magma and unstable rocks at or near the
summit.
Fissuring due to pressure exerted by the
rising magma (rarely observed)
Phenomena Associated with Eruptions:
Airfall tephra (ballistic fragments, ashfalls)
Pyroclastic flows
Lava flows
Lahars
MONITORING TECHNIQUES:
Monitoring Methods:
A. Geophysical Method
Seismic monitoring - telemetered
to Lignon Hill Observatory
B. Geodetic Methods
Electronic Distance
Measurement
Precise
leveling
Tilt measurements (wet and
dry)
C. Visual Observations
D. Geochemical methods
Gas chemistry - monitoring of
sulfur dioxide emission using Correlation
Spectrometer (COSPEC)
E. Water Well Monitoring
Monitoring Stations:
Mayon Rest House Observatory (MRHO) - 3.8 km
NW of the summit
Sta. Misericordia Volcano Observatory (SMO) -
8.5 km E of the summit
Lignon Hill Observatory (LHO) - 12 km SSE of
the summit
HAZARD ZONES:
Permanent Danger Zone - 6 km radius
High Danger Zone - 6 km from the summit extended to 11
km in the SE sector
Moderate Danger Zone - 8 km from the summit extended to
15 km inthe SE sector
MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN 15 KM OF
MAYON 'S SUMMIT CRATER:
|
MUNICIPALITY |
POPULATION
|
NO. OF HOUSEHOLDS
|
| Bacacay |
49,202 |
8,864 |
| Camalig |
49,975 |
9,216 |
| Daraga |
83,928 |
15,551 |
|
Guinobatan |
58,926 |
10,884 |
| Legazpi
City |
121,116 |
22,222 |
| Ligao |
72,560 |
13,070 |
|
Malilipot |
24,160 |
4,555 |
|
Sto.Domingo |
22,939 |
4,186 |
| Tabaco |
85,476 |
15,140 |
|
