Mayon unrest enters 195th day

Mayon Volcano in Albay has remained under Alert Level 3 for 195 consecutive days, with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reporting sustained lava effusion and heightened volcanic activity as of Sunday.

Phivolcs released footage on social media showing a fresh lava effusion at around 10:05 a.m. that generated pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) and rockfalls along the volcano’s slopes.

In its latest 24-hour bulletin, the agency said Mayon continued to exhibit lava effusion and strombolian activity, while recording 97 volcanic earthquakes, including three volcanic tremors lasting up to six minutes.

Strombolian activity refers to intermittent, explosive bursts of gas that hurl incandescent lava into the air without producing a sustained eruption column. The eruption style is named after Italy’s Mount Stromboli, often called the “Lighthouse of the Mediterranean” for its persistent volcanic glow.

Phivolcs also logged 314 rockfalls and an average sulfur dioxide emission of 1,499 tonnes per day, underscoring the volcano’s continuing unrest. Authorities continue to strictly prohibit entry into the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone due to the risks of sudden explosions, pyroclastic density currents, lava flows and rockfalls.

Mayon is one of four volcanoes currently under close monitoring by Phivolcs, alongside Kanlaon in Negros Island, Taal in Batangas, and Bulusan in Sorsogon.

In its latest bulletin on Kanlaon, the agency reported 23 volcanic earthquakes and sulfur dioxide emissions averaging 1,273 tonnes per day, indicating that the volcano also remains in a state of elevated activity.