Mayon remains under Alert Level 3

Mayon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3 as it marked its 40th straight day of unrest on Saturday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Alert Level 3 means the volcano is still in a state of heightened or magmatic unrest. Lava continues to flow from the crater, and there remains the risk of pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) and sudden explosive activity.

Earlier in the day, Phivolcs shared time-lapse footage on social media showing lava steadily pouring from Mayon’s summit crater at 7:21 p.m. on Friday, 13 February. The glowing flow highlights that the eruption is ongoing — not just a brief burst of activity.

Effusive eruptions like this mainly involve lava flowing out of the crater. While the movement may appear slow, it can build unstable lava fronts along the slopes. When parts of these collapse, they can trigger dangerous, fast-moving avalanches of hot gas, ash, and rocks.

In Mayon’s case, lava flows have moved several kilometers down the Basud, Bonga, and Mi-isi gullies. Monitoring reports also logged hundreds of rockfall events and multiple PDCs within 24-hour periods.

Phivolcs is reminding residents and visitors to stay out of the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone. Sudden collapses from the summit or lava fronts can send hot debris rushing downslope without warning.

Local officials have also been advised to stay alert for possible lahars, especially during heavy rains, as loose ash and volcanic debris can quickly flow into rivers and low-lying communities.