Growing warnings about Mayon volcano activity
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has issued renewed warnings about escalating activity at Mayon Volcano, one of the country's most active volcanoes. The institute urged citizens and residents to strictly adhere to the six-kilometer-diameter permanent danger zone surrounding the volcano, warning of the potential for a sudden and dangerous eruption. These warnings come amid a significant increase in seismic and volcanic activity. In the past 24 hours, instruments recorded up to 340 rockfalls, 45 pyroclastic flows, and 13 volcanic earthquakes—clear indicators of magma disturbances beneath the volcano.
Geological context and a history full of eruptions
Mount Mayon is located in Albay Province, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region of intense seismic and volcanic activity caused by tectonic plate movement. The volcano is famous for its near-perfect cone shape, which has made it a world-renowned tourist destination and a national park. However, this beauty masks a violent history, as the volcano has erupted more than 50 times in the last four hundred years. Its most devastating eruption in recorded history was in 1814, which killed more than 1,200 people and destroyed the entire town of Kagsawa, leaving only the spire of its church as a silent witness to the disaster. Its most recent major eruption was in June 2023, which forced the evacuation of nearly 20,000 people from their homes.
Importance and expected impacts locally and internationally
Any major eruption of Mount Mayon would have devastating consequences both locally and regionally. Locally, residents in surrounding areas face direct threats from lava flows, rockfalls, and extremely hot, fast-moving pyroclastic flows, as well as lahars that can be triggered by heavy rainfall. Volcanic ashfall would contaminate water sources, destroy crops, and disrupt daily life and infrastructure. Regionally and internationally, dense ash clouds could pose a significant risk to air traffic, potentially leading to flight cancellations and rerouting in Southeast Asia. Philippine authorities are mobilizing all available resources to manage the crisis, prepare evacuation centers, and coordinate relief efforts, potentially with support from international organizations should the situation worsen.
