Two volcanoes headed in opposite directions: the Alert level was raised at Mayon in the Philippines, while 24/7 staffing of the AVO operations center has ceased now that Redoubt seems to have quieted down.
PHIVOLCS officials have raised the alert status at Mayon to Level 2 (this link has video of the steaming volcano), which indicates “moderate unrest“. Low-frequency earthquakes have increased, suggesting the movement of magma in the edifice, the glow at the summit has increased and the 1 cm / 0.5 inches of inflation of the edifice has been sustained. Now, exactly what on the edifice has inflated is unclear – mostly like it can be seen on the sides of the volcano where they measure the slope of the volcano. In any case, all of these signs would definitely point towards an increased chance of eruption. No new evacuation orders have been issued, but PHIVOLCS recommended that the six kilometer / 3.7 miles Permanent Danger Zone and 7 kilometer / 4.4 mile Extended Danger Zone be called “off limits.”
Japan just opened to tourists for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began, echoing the island country’s isolationist policies during the feudal era.
