Phivolcs Cable Wires Stolen As Mayon Blows Hot

By Ephraim Aguilar (Inquirer)
Last updated 03:12am (Mla time) 07/18/2006

LEGAZPI CITY—Cable wires of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology here were again stolen by unidentified men, disrupting communications from and to the Phivolcs office just as it monitored lava flow from Mayon Volcano.

Alex Baloloy, Phivolcs science research analyst, said the wires were stolen between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., but no one saw the theft. The observatory is at a secluded area at the Ligñon Hill in Barangay Tagas in Daraga town.

The phone line was restored when Digitel Telephone Co. immediately replaced the stolen wires.

“This has happened thrice already since May. What these robbers don’t realize is that they are toying with public safety with what they are doing,” Baloloy said.

An angry Gov. Fernando Gonzales immediately ordered the provincial police to investigate and come out with positive results in 24 hours.

“Certainly, there was a lapse in law enforcement,” Gonzales said.

“Some unscrupulous people don’t realize that they are putting lives in danger, including theirs.”

Early this year, two seismometers of the Phivolcs were stolen.

One was returned after the robbers heard the Phivolcs’ appeal over radio for the return of the instrument because it was needed to monitor ground movements related to volcanic activities.

The Phivolcs has recorded 314 quakes generated by Mayon’s activity from a previous 111. This indicates magma rising and burning volcanic rocks coming out, Baloloy said.

Less emission of sulfur dioxide—a sign of clogging inside the volcano—was also noted.

“If the pressure continues to rise and there is clogging within the volcano, it might lead to an explosion,” Baloloy said.

The latest Phivolcs bulletin noted “heightened unrest in the volcano which could lead to an explosive eruption” based on an increase in seismic activity and lava flow.

People within the 6-km-radius permanent danger zone (PDZ) and even those beyond, especially in the southeast portion facing the Bonga Gully, should be on a high level of alert, the Phivolcs said.

Phivolcs has maintained alert level 3 since Friday night in the 2,474-meter Mayon, which is known for its near-perfect cone. It is also one of the country’s 22 active volcanos.

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