Mount Mayon Erupts in Philippines, Prompting Evacuations and Alert Level 3

Residents living near the slopes of Mount Mayon in Albay province, Philippines, were evacuated to designated centers following a moderate explosive eruption on Friday morning. The volcanic event commenced just before noon, prompting local authorities to move families out of harm's way as thin layers of ash began settling across nearby towns.

Oscar Robert Cristobal, chief of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (Apsemo), stated that the evacuation targeted 1,131 families residing within the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ). Affected areas included Tabaco City, Ligao City, and the towns of Guinobatan, Camalig, Daraga, and Malilipot. Officials had prepositioned food packs and transport vehicles to streamline the relocation process.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the volcano produced a gray ash column that reached 3,000 meters above its crater at 11:53 a.m. Prevailing winds carried the ash toward the west-southwest, impacting Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, and surrounding communities with light ashfall. Local response teams were subsequently deployed to distribute thousands of face masks to residents in the affected zone.

In response to the activity, Phivolcs raised the alert warning for Mount Mayon from Level 2 to Level 3, signaling an increased probability of a hazardous explosive eruption. Doreen Abelinde, a science research specialist at Phivolcs-Legazpi, explained that monitoring equipment recorded low-frequency volcanic earthquakes and tremors on October 27, pointing to magma movement near the surface that ultimately triggered the blast.

Experts have warned that intensifying lava flows and dangerous pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) could occur in the coming days or weeks. Residents have been strongly advised to stay clear of the Permanent Danger Zone due to ongoing threats from PDCs, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards. Additionally, aviation authorities advised pilots to avoid flying close to the summit.

Albay Governor Noel Rosal ordered the immediate suspension of classes across all public and private school levels. He also directed school administrators utilizing facilities as evacuation centers to implement alternative learning methods. Furthermore, the governor instructed the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police to monitor and strictly prohibit human activities inside the danger zone.

Mount Mayon, known for its nearly perfect cone shape, is the most active volcano in the Philippines and is located approximately 325 kilometers southeast of Manila. The eruption lasted approximately six minutes, and local reports confirmed that there were no immediate casualties.