LEGAZPI CITY, Albay — The quiet but persistent eruption of Mayon Volcano has officially entered its 83rd day, with state volcanologists reporting a steady flow of lava and a series of volcanic earthquakes that continue to keep local communities on high alert.
In its latest bulletin, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) confirmed that the “effusive” nature of the eruption remains unchanged. Unlike an explosive blast, an effusive eruption is characterized by the slow, steady outpouring of molten rock. This lava continues to crawl down the Mi-isi and Bonga gullies, extending several kilometers from the summit crater.
Despite the lack of a major explosion, the volcano’s internal unrest is evident. Over the last 24 hours, monitoring instruments recorded multiple volcanic earthquakes and hundreds of rockfall events triggered by the collapsing fringes of the advancing lava flows.
“We are seeing a consistent rate of magma egress,” a PHIVOLCS resident volcanologist noted. “While it may look less dramatic than a vertical ash column, the accumulation of high-temperature debris poses a very real threat to the areas immediately surrounding the slopes.”
Mayon remains under Alert Level 3, indicating a high level of unrest and the potential for a hazardous eruption within weeks or even days. Authorities are strictly enforcing the six-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ), warning residents and tourists alike that sudden rockfalls, landslides, and even small-scale steam-driven explosions could occur without warning.
Local disaster management offices in Albay continue to monitor the displacement of thousands of residents currently housed in evacuation centers. With the eruption nearly three months in, provincial officials are focusing on the long-term health and sanitation needs of those unable to return to their farms and homes near the volcano’s base.
For now, the provincial government is maintaining a “zero casualty” goal, coordinating closely with scientists to track any shifts in Mayon’s behavior that might necessitate a wider evacuation or an upgrade in the alert status.