Unrest continues at Mayon

As January draws to a close, Mayon Volcano continues to show signs of unrest, logging five volcanic earthquakes, lava flows and nearly 400 rockfall events within a 24-hour period.

According to the monitoring bulletin of the Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), Mayon recorded the activity from 12 a.m. Friday to 12 a.m. Saturday.

PHIVOLCS said the volcano generated 377 rockfall events and 47 pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), locally known as “uson.”

The agency also observed that Mayon’s crater remained incandescent, with the glow visible to the naked eye. Lava dome growth and lava effusion were among the volcanic activities recorded during the period.

Volcanic plumes rose as high as 100 meters above the crater and drifted northwestward and west-southwestward. Sulfur dioxide emissions reached 2,304 tons on Friday.

Mayon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3, indicating intensified magmatic unrest. PHIVOLCS reiterated that entry into the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone is strictly prohibited, while access to the extended danger zone requires heightened vigilance. Aircraft are also advised to avoid flying close to the volcano.

PHIVOLCS warned that possible hazards include rockfalls, landslides or avalanches, ballistic fragments, lava flows and lava fountaining, pyroclastic density currents, moderate explosions, and lahar during periods of heavy and prolonged rainfall.