In brief
A six‑minute, moderately explosive eruption of Mayon Volcano on Friday sent an ash plume 3,000 m into the air and raised the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology’s alert level to 3. Residents within a 6‑km permanent danger zone were urged to evacuate, while pilots were told to avoid the summit. The eruption also warned of increased lava‑flow risk in the coming days and weeks, with ashfall expected to affect communities in Daraga, Guinobatan and other Albay municipalities.
Mayon Volcano in northern Philippines erupted on Friday, sending a plume of ash up to 3,000 metres into the sky and prompting authorities to lift the volcano’s alert level from 2 to 3, according to Xinhua.
Xinhua reported that a “moderately explosive eruption” began at about 11:53 a.m. local time and lasted six minutes, producing a dense, rapidly ascending ash plume that moved west‑southwest by moderate winds.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said the event put Mayon into a new phase of magmatic activity, raising the alert level to 3 and increasing the risk of lava flows and pyroclastic density currents in the short term.
PHIVOLCS urged people within the volcano’s 6‑kilometre permanent danger zone to evacuate immediately, while civil aviation authorities advised pilots to avoid flying close to the summit.
Anadolu Agency added that ashfall is expected to affect the communities of Daraga, Guinobatan and surrounding Albay municipalities, and that Level 3 indicates sustained increases in volcanic earthquakes and forceful steam or ash ejections.
FirstPost noted the same six‑minute eruption prompted a call for evacuations within the 6‑km zone and warned of possible ashfall.
