GMANEWS online-June 5,2013
The alert level at Mayon Volcano was raised to "1" from zero after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) saw "abnormal behavior" in the form of crater glow and bluish hydrogen sulfide fumes.
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology head Renato Solidum Jr. said seismologists the crater glow and bluish hydrogen sulfide fumes were observed over the last two evenings.
"Ito ay kadahilanang sa nakalipas na 36-hour period, dalawang gabi namataan namin mahinang pamumula o pagbaga sa tuktok ng bulkan, o crater glow. May bluish hue na hydrogen sulfide ito ... abnormal ang pinapakita ng bulkan (In the last 36-hour period, or last two nights, we noted a crater glow and a bluish hue indicating hydrogen sulfide. The volcano had shown abnormal activity)," Solidum said in an interview on dzBB radio.
"Ang Alert Level 1 para ang publiko ay magingat (We raised the alert level to '1' so the public will take precautions)," he added.
He said raising the alert level should prompt the public to be extra careful in going near the volcano.
Last May 7, a steam-driven eruption occurred at Mayon, killing some foreign tourists and their Filipino guide.
Some weeks later, a Russian climber who defied warnings climbed the volcano but got stuck and injured, and had to be rescued.
