MANILA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Philippine state volcanologists on Tuesday raised the alert level of Mayon Volcano in Albay province on Luzon island to Alert Level 3, citing the "onset of dome collapse pyroclastic density current," the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.
"This means that Mayon is exhibiting a magmatic eruption of a summit lava dome, with increased chances of lava flows and hazardous pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), affecting the upper to middle slopes of the volcano and of potential explosive activity within days or weeks," the institute said in its advisory.
The institute noted that repeated collapses of the unstable summit dome of Mayon Volcano have generated an increasing number and volume of rockfall events, adding that a total of 346 rockfall events and four volcanic earthquakes were recorded since Jan. 1, 2026, compared to 599 rockfall events from November to December 2025.
The institute has recommended evacuating the six-km radius permanent danger zone due to the risk of PDCs, lava flows, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards.
Authorities urged residents in areas surrounding Mayon to remain vigilant and to follow guidance from local government units and disaster risk reduction officials, as conditions could rapidly escalate.
"Increased vigilance against pyroclastic density currents, lahars, and sediment-laden streamflows along channels draining the edifice is also advised," the institute said. ■
