The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has increased the alert level for Mount Mayon from 2 to 3 on its 0-5 scale, following a "moderately explosive eruption" that occurred on Friday. The event, which lasted for nearly six minutes, propelled a dark column of ash thousands of metres into the air.
While there have been no immediate reports of damage or casualties in the cities and towns surrounding the 2,462-metre volcano, authorities have issued an urgent call for residents to evacuate areas within a six-kilometre radius of the crater. The 3,000-metre-high ash column was observed drifting toward nearby population centres in a southwest direction.
According to the state seismology office, Mount Mayon has entered a new phase of magmatic eruption. Officials have warned of an increased risk of lava flows, rockfalls, and hazardous pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) that could affect the volcano's upper and middle slopes in the coming days and weeks. Aviation authorities have also advised pilots to avoid flying in close proximity to the mountain.
Located roughly 330 kilometres southeast of Manila, the near-perfect cone of Mount Mayon is recognized as one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines. It is one of three volcanoes in the country that have shown heightened activity this year. In June 2023, more than 12,000 residents living on the lower slopes were relocated to evacuation centres due to the emission of toxic gases and ash.
The Philippines is situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where frequent volcanic activity and earthquakes are common due to the collision of tectonic plates. The nation experienced its most severe eruption in recent decades in 1991, when Mount Pinatubo erupted, resulting in over 800 deaths and an expansive ash cloud that spanned thousands of kilometres.
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