Philippines Raises Mayon Volcano Alert to Level 3 After Explosive Eruption

Mount Mayon, one of the Philippines’ most active volcanoes, erupted on Friday, sending a dark column of ash thousands of metres into the sky in an event that lasted nearly six minutes, according to the country’s state volcanology agency.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the volcano’s alert level from 2 to 3 on its five-level scale, warning of increased risks from lava flows, falling rocks and dangerous pyroclastic density currents. Authorities called for evacuations in areas within six kilometres of the crater.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage in communities surrounding the volcano.

The eruption produced an ash column reaching approximately 3,000 metres, which gradually drifted southwest towards nearby populated areas, the institute said in a bulletin.

The agency described the event as a moderately explosive eruption and said Mount Mayon had entered a new phase of magmatic activity. It warned that the increased activity could generate lava flows and pyroclastic density currents along the upper and middle slopes in the coming days and weeks.

Pyroclastic density currents are fast-moving mixtures of hot gas, ash and volcanic material that can travel down a volcano’s slopes at high speeds and pose a serious threat to people and property.

The institute urged local authorities to evacuate residents living near the crater because of the danger from these currents, lava flows, rockfalls and other volcanic hazards. It also advised aircraft to avoid flying close to the mountain because of the ash emissions.

Standing at 2,462 metres, Mount Mayon is located about 330 kilometres southeast of Manila. It is known for its near-perfect cone shape and is among three Philippine volcanoes that have recorded elevated activity this year, although no major eruptions had been reported before Friday’s event.

The volcano has previously forced large-scale evacuations. In June 2023, more than 12,000 people living on its lower slopes were moved to evacuation centres as authorities sought to protect them from ash emissions and toxic gases.

Volcanic activity and earthquakes are common in the Philippines because the country lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone where several tectonic plates meet and interact.

The region is prone to frequent seismic activity and volcanic eruptions, making monitoring and emergency preparedness important for communities living near active mountains.

One of the country’s most destructive eruptions in recent decades occurred at Mount Pinatubo in 1991. The disaster killed more than 800 people and sent an enormous ash cloud thousands of kilometres across the region, causing widespread disruption.