Mayon VolcanoPhilippines

Mayon has the classic conical shape of a stratovolcano. It is the most active  volcano in the Philippines. Since 1616, Mayon has erupted 47 times. The beautifully symmetrical Mayon volcano, which rises to 2,460 meters above the Albay Gulf, is the Philippines' most active volcano. The structurally simple volcano has steep upper slopes that average 35-40 degrees and is capped by a small summit crater. 

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: 

LOCATION:LOCATION: ALBAY PROVINCE, 300 km SE of Manila (13°15.4'N - 123°41.1'E)

Height:  2,460 m Base Circumference:  62.8 km (reckoned fr

om 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

 Composition of Lava:  Andesitic   Areas:  314.1 km² (estimated from 62.8 km b

ase circumference)      

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 entr

ained 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 unsta

ble rocks at or near the summit.       

MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN 15 KM OF MAYON 'S SUMMIT CRATER:

 MUNICIPALITY

POPULATION

  NO. OF HOUSEHOLD  

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

Mount Mayon, Eruption March 2000