Mayon Volcano monitoring station crippled after cable theft

Among the stolen items were power and data cables essential for running the Phivolcs station.

A monitoring station for one of the country’s most active volcanoes has gone offline, later found to be due to theft.

In a statement, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said a routine maintenance check revealed that cables were cut and stolen from its Ligao Observation Station in Albay, Bicol, disabling part of its monitoring network for Mayon Volcano.

The nerve center dismantled

Included among the stolen equipment are solar cables, battery cables, liquid-tight conduit cables, and LAN/FTP cables. These cables are critical for powering the station and transmitting real-time data from sensors that track volcanic movement.

The theft means there is now one less source of real-time information for communities near Mayon. Monitoring stations help detect critical data used in identifying volcanic earthquakes and assessing tectonic activities.

A blow to public safety

Authorities said there is currently no publicly disclosed lead on the perpetrators. Investigations are ongoing, but recovery of the stolen equipment is seen as unlikely given the nature of the incident and the time that has already passed.

Authorities are also reminding the public that tampering with disaster monitoring equipment is punishable under the law, as these systems are directly tied to public safety.