CAAP restricts flights near Mayon as new lava spines detected

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) limiting flights around Mayon Volcano in the province of Albay.

The advisory covers airspace from surface up to 11,000 feet effective from 10 December, 8:36 a.m. until 11 December, 9:00 a.m. Flight operators are advised to avoid flying near the volcano.

The notice comes as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported changes to Mayon’s summit, where photographs from 8 to 10 December show new spines of dark lava extruded from the summit lava dome.

Phivolcs said this indicates the presence of new and shallow magma within the volcano’s edifice.

The release of new lava has also brought an increase in rockfall events from the three per day average in 2025 to 16 events per day in December.

Alert Level 1 remains in effect over Mayon Volcano, indicating low-level unrest. Entry into the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone remains prohibited due to volcanic hazards.