In brief
Mayon Volcano erupted on Friday at 11:53 a.m. local time, producing an ash plume that rose 3,000 metres and led PHIVOLCS to raise the alert level from 2 to 3. Residents in the 6‑km Permanent Danger Zone, including those in Daraga, Guinobatan and surrounding Albay municipalities, were urged to evacuate. Aviation authorities were told to avoid flight paths near the summit.
A 6‑minute eruption began at Mayon Volcano in Albay province at 11:53 a.m. local time Friday, sending a dense, rapidly ascending ash plume 3,000 metres above the crater, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) in a statement (Xinhua). The event was described as a moderately explosive eruption that disrupted the 250‑year‑old active stratovolcano in the Bicol region.
Following the event, PHIVOLCS raised Mayon’s volcanic alert level from 2 to 3 on a five‑tiered scale. The agency cited sustained increases in the levels of volcanic earthquakes and forceful, voluminous steam and ash ejections as the reason for the change (Anadolu Agency). In the new alert phase, PHIVOLCS warned of increased chances of lava flows and pyroclastic density currents affecting the upper to middle slopes in the immediate days to weeks.
The ash plume dispersed to the west and southwest by moderate winds, and ashfall was expected to drift onto communities in the region, including Daraga, Guinobatan and adjacent municipalities in Albay province (Anadolu Agency). PHIVOLCS forecasted that ashfall could bring visibility impairments and respiratory risks to residents and businesses in those towns.
Authorities ordered evacuations for residents within a 6‑kilometre (3.7‑mile) radius Permanent Danger Zone, a zone that encompasses the most at‑risk communities around the volcano (Xinhua). Persons living within this zone were advised to leave immediately and seek higher ground or shelters set up by the local government units.
The National Investigation and Police Organization (NIO) and civil defence agencies were activated to coordinate the evacuation and to assist those who need relocation or medical care, as PHIVOLCS described the situation as a “new phase of magmatic eruption” that could bring rockfalls or lahars if the volcanic activity escalated (Anadolu Agency).
Another consequence of the eruption was a directive to civil aviation authorities. Pilots were warned to avoid flying close to Mayon’s summit, and flight paths were temporarily altered to minimize collision risks with volcanic ash and reduced visibility (Xinhua).
Mayon Volcano, known for its near‑perfect conical shape, has a long history of explosive eruptions that have previously forced mass evacuations for thousands of people in the surrounding area. The current event adds to that pattern, prompting close monitoring from PHIVOLCS and emergency responders.
Community leaders in Daraga and Guinobatan have begun organising temporary shelters for residents displaced by the evacuation order, according to a report from PHIVOLCS. These leaders emphasized the importance of following official instructions and staying updated through local radio and online platforms.
PHIVOLCS will continue to monitor seismic and thermal readings from the volcano’s active breach, and it will work with local government units to reshuffle the alert level if activity changes. The agency urged residents living outside the 6‑km zone to remain alert for further advisories, as the volcano is in an unpredictable state.
In the wake of the eruption, authorities have also begun environmental checks for ash contamination on crops and water supplies in affected municipalities to mitigate longer‑term health effects. Local health agencies have started distributing masks and advising residents to avoid outdoor activities until the ash settles.
