LEGAZPI CITY ---- Mayon Volcano in Albay showed signs of restiveness after it spewed a 200-meter high ash column on Sunday manifesting an increased seismic activity, scientists said yesterday.

         The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the volcano exhibited a mild ash explosion with a 200-meter high ash column above the crater summit and drifted east-northeast of the province.

        Dr. Ed Laguerta, Phivolcs resident volcanologist, said the ash ejection was recorded as explosion type earthquake which lasted for a minute.

        Laguerta said during that the past weeks seismic activity had slightly increased and crater glow had slightly intensified.

        Phivolcs leveling survey revealed that a slight swelling at the volcano’s edifice indicates that magma might be building up.

        Laguerta said the volcano’s abnormal signs indicate two scenarios – one, the volcano is undergoing an episode of increased activity probably related to magma movement and second, Mayon is showing a post eruptive behavior.

        “Although these parameters are not yet indicative of a major eruption, steam emission and ash explosions may occur any day,” Laguerta said.

         In three villages (Tumpa, Sua, and Quiranngay) of Camalig, Albay a town located at the foot of Mayon Volcano, villagers noted that snakes and wild birds were going down the slopes of the volcano.

        Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda, chairman of the Albay Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) reiterated the long standing policy to various city and municipal disaster councils (CMDCC) not to allow any human activity in the six-kilometer permanent danger zone around the volcano.

        Salceda said “the no-man’s land policy is now in effect, we will not allow any farming activity, mountain climbing, even sight seeing inside the prohibited zone.”

        PDCC data showed that there are still 1,400 families living inside the 6km PDZ.

        He said the PDCC will be on a 24-hour “Close Watch” and directed all city and town mayors to be on alert and institute precautionary measures for disaster preparedness.

        Alert level 1 still in effect, residents were warned of the continuing threats from sudden small explosions and rock falls from the upper slopes, active river channels and those areas perennially identified as lahar-prone around the volcano should be avoided when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall.

        Mayon Volcano’s last recorded eruption was in 2006 when the 2,462 meter high volcano spewed some 17 million metric tons of molten rocks which flowed surpassing the 7km PDZ at the southeast portion of the volcano.

        Mayon Volcano is vying to be included among the seven new wonders of the world. Presently the volcano is on the ninth spot, together with the Tubataha rift (2nd place) Chocolate Hills, in Bohol, and the under ground river in Palawan.