Big Chunk of Mayon Volcano Falls Down Slope,
Ruining Famous Symmetry
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Mn.Talk Radio Network
6/30/0
June 30, 2001
Big Chunk of Mayon Volcano Falls Down Slope, Ruining Famous Symmetry; Threat of More Eruptions
BONGA, Philippines (AP) - A massive slab of the Mayon volcano's near-perfect cone cracked off and fell down the slope Saturday as mounting magma pressure threatened
villages at its base, scientists said.
Increasing volcanic quakes and rising magma slightly warped the side of Mayon, and a wall of volcanic rock splintered off, ruining the volcano's famous symmetry, said
volcanologist Ed Villacorte.
Journalists at the scene could not see how badly Mayon had been disfigured following two moderate eruptions on Friday afternoon because the top was obscured by clouds and steam.
Despite the risk of more eruptions or steaming mudslides, many farmers toiled at the base of the volcano Saturday, harvesting carrots, radishes, sweet potatoes and string
beans from the soot-blackened soil. "There is a very high level of seismic activity and the threat of more eruptions," Villacorte said.
Eruptions Friday were small compared to the volcano's massive eruption on June 24, but they still blasted clouds of ash more than a mile into the air. The big eruption blew
ash more than 9 miles into the air and shot red-hot boulders 2,000 feet above the central Philippines volcano.
Authorities say 18 villages are in a danger zone. Civil defense officials say 45,000 evacuees now sleep in 31 evacuation centers in the nearby city of Legazpi, although
many have been returning to their villages to work or look after their belongings during the day.
Related thread: Philippine Volcano Spews Lava, Big Blast Feared — Follow-up on the Mayon volcano eruption