Philippines Volcano erupts, unleashes massive ash cloud

• PHIVOLCS kept Mayon Volcano at Alert Level 3 following a massive ash emission on Tuesday
• Stations logged 13 volcanic earthquakes, minor Strombolian activity, and sulfur dioxide emissions of 1,751 tons/day
• Entry remains strictly banned within the 6-kilometer danger zone alongside no-fly advisories near the summit
• The alert follows Friday's eruption that propelled an ash column 3,000 meters above the crater

Philippine authorities maintained a heightened state of alert on Tuesday following renewed unrest at Mayon Volcano, where an emission of a massive ash cloud triggered warnings of escalating volcanic hazards across southeastern Albay province.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) kept the volcano under Alert Level 3, signaling that magma remains near the crater and that a hazardous explosive eruption is possible within weeks.

According to the agency’s 24-hour monitoring bulletin, the seismic network registered 13 volcanic earthquakes and one rockfall event.

Volcanologists also recorded minor Strombolian activity, involving intermittent bursts of lava fragments and gases, alongside a plume rising approximately 100 meters (328 feet) into the air before drifting toward the southwest.

Gas emissions also climbed sharply, with sulfur dioxide flux measured at 1,751 tons per day on Monday.

The alert was initially escalated to Level 3 on Friday after a moderately explosive event hurled a dense ash column 3,000 meters (9,842 feet) above the summit, prompting local officials to issue evacuation advisories for perimeter settlements.

Civil defense agencies have placed a strict prohibition on public entry within the designated 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) permanent danger zone, while civil aviation authorities have warned pilots to avoid airspace near the summit due to airborne ash hazards.

Residents across Albay remain cautioned against the immediate threats of ashfall, rockfalls, and sudden lava flows.

Located in the Bicol region of southern Luzon, approximately 330 kilometers southeast of Manila, Mayon is renowned for its symmetrical cone and ranks among the most active and volatile volcanoes in the Philippines.