Authorities in the Philippines evacuated thousands of residents from areas south of Manila on Sunday following the eruption of the Mayon volcano, the nation's most active volcanic peak. Officials urged the public to steer clear of the designated danger zone, a 6-kilometre radius around the volcano, citing risks of landslides and lava flows.
Eruption Details and Precautions
Shortly before the eruption, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported clear signs of heightened magmatic unrest, including lava emissions and volcanic earthquakes. A thick layer of ash blanketed several towns in the central province of Albay, disrupting traffic and daily routines.
Mayon, the most active among the Philippines' 22 volcanoes, has erupted nearly 50 times over the past four centuries. Its last magmatic eruption in June 2023 released substantial volumes of lava and toxic gases. The most devastating eruption occurred in February 1841, when lava flows buried an entire town and claimed 1,200 lives.
Alert Level and Evacuations
In January, the alert level for Mayon was raised to 3 on a five-step warning system after signs of volcanic activity emerged. The same level-3 alert was reinstated on Sunday after Phivolcs observed "strombolian activity and short-lived lava fountaining" at the volcano. Following the eruption, the Department of Social Welfare and Development reported that nearly 1,500 families had been relocated to evacuation centres, with approximately 300,000 food and non-food items prepared for affected communities.
The Civil Aviation Authority issued a flight safety advisory, alerting airlines to airspace restrictions above Manila. The regulator stated that the precautionary measure was implemented due to potential hazards from volcanic ash, airborne particles, and sudden volcanic activity, which could impair aircraft engines and navigation systems, compromising flight safety. The Philippines lies on the "Ring of Fire," a belt of volcanoes encircling the Pacific Ocean that is also prone to earthquakes.
