Legazpi city: The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Tuesday raised the alert status of Mayon Volcano from Level 2 (increasing unrest) to Level 3 (increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption). Repeated collapse of the unstable summit dome of Mayon Volcano has generated an increasing number and volume of rockfall events.
According to Philippines News Agency, since January 1, a total of 346 rockfall events and four volcanic earthquakes have been recorded, compared to 599 rockfall events from November to December 2025. These rockfall events had durations ranging from one to five minutes, transporting lava debris within a kilometer range of the southern upper slopes. Phivolcs noted that the volume of discrete rockfall, with observed incandescence at nighttime, increased on Monday, signaling an increase in dome growth and the onset of extrusion of new lava at the crater.
An incandescent rockfall involves hot material that appears glowing, especially at night, indicating that the rocks originated from the hot portions of the summit lava dome or from newly exposed volcanic material. At 12:26 p.m. Tuesday, pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) on the Bonga (southeast) Gully began generating from the collapse of newly extruded lava, lasting at least three minutes. Meanwhile, sulfur dioxide emission remains at baseline or background levels.
Persistent inflation of the eastern and southeastern slopes has also been observed. Phivolcs stated that the overall monitoring parameters indicate that very slow extrusion of shallow degassed magma is ongoing and is incrementally increasing in rate. Under Alert Level 3, Mayon is exhibiting magmatic eruption of a summit lava dome, with increased chances of lava flows and hazardous PDCs affecting the upper to middle slopes of the volcano. There is also potential explosive activity within days or weeks.
Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol advised those residing inside the 6-km permanent danger zone (PDZ) to be ready to immediately evacuate. Increased vigilance is also advised against pyroclastic density currents, lahars, and sediment-laden streamflows along channels draining the edifice. Phivolcs urged aviation authorities to advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano's summit as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.
