Mayon volcano eruption: 1,500 families evacuated, airspace restricted near Manila (Image source: ANI)
Thousands of people were evacuated from areas south of Manila following the Mayon volcano eruption, with authorities warning the public to stay out of the six-kilometre-diameter danger zone and raising alert level 3 in the country’s five-step warning system, ANI reported.The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported “Strombolian activity and short-lived lava flows” from one of the most active volcanoes in the Southeast Asian country, warning of the possibility of landslides, rockslides, avalanches and lava flows.Nearly 1,500 families are now staying in evacuation centres, according to the Ministry of Social Welfare and Development. More than 26,600 families across Albay province were affected by the floods.
Ground and air disturbance
Heavy snow covered several towns in Albay province on Saturday, disrupting traffic as motorists faced hazards on the road due to low visibility. Local police distributed face masks to affected residents and issued warnings limiting exposure to outdoor spaces.Water supplies were temporarily cut off in some areas as resources were diverted to road clearing operations. Some agricultural losses were reported after rice fields that were close to harvest were buried under ash.
The Civil Aviation Authority issued an aviation safety advisory, alerting airlines about restrictions on airspace over Manila. Authorities said the precautionary measure came in light of the potential risks posed by volcanic ash, airborne particles and sudden volcanic activity, which could interfere with aircraft engines and navigation systems.
Mayon’s devastating history
Mayon is the most active of the 24 volcanoes in the Philippines. It has erupted nearly 50 times over the past four centuries.
The most devastating explosion occurred in February 1841, burying an entire city and killing 1,200 people.Its eruption in 1993 killed 79 people. The last magma eruption, in June 2023, ejected large quantities of lava and harmful gases.In January 2026, the authorities raised the alert level of the city of Mayon to 3 after it showed signs of an eruption. The same level three alert was issued on Sunday.The 2,463-meter (8,007 ft) volcano is a popular tourist attraction due to its almost perfect cone shape.The Philippines is located on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of fault lines often exposed by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Phivolcs also reported that 32 volcanic earthquakes were recorded in 24 hours.Authorities advised the public to strictly monitor the permanent danger zone within a six-kilometre radius of the volcano’s crater.