Mayon volcano erupts in the Philippines, raising alert level and ordering evacuations

Eruption and ash column

The Mayon volcano, in Albay province about 330 kilometres southeast of Manila, erupted at 11:53 local time on Friday, 30 October 2026. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) described it as a moderately explosive eruption that lasted almost six minutes. Strong, quickly rising ash clouds were carried by the wind to the west and southwest, toward populated areas. Initial reports gave no information about casualties or damage in the towns around the volcano. Mayon stands 2,462 metres high and is one of the most active volcanoes in the country.

Alert level raised and evacuations ordered

Phivolcs raised the alert level from 2 to 3 on a scale that runs up to 5, according to Le Soir and Tgcom24. Residents living within six kilometres of the crater are being evacuated. Authorities expect to have to house about 5,000 people from eight surrounding cities and municipalities in emergency shelters. Classes at all schools and educational institutions in the province have been suspended. Ash fall is expected in the municipalities of Daraga and Guinobatan and in neighbouring areas.

Warning of a larger eruption

According to Phivolcs, Mayon has entered a new phase of magmatic activity, which increases the risk of lava flows and pyroclastic flows affecting the upper and middle slopes of the volcano in the days and weeks ahead. Pyroclastic flows are hot avalanches of gas, ash and rock. Aviation authorities have been asked to warn pilots against flying near the crater, because ash clouds could endanger aircraft if the volcano erupts suddenly. Le Soir reported that planes are also being asked to avoid flying in the vicinity of the volcano.

Recent history of the volcano

Mayon last erupted in May, when thick ash covered its surroundings and affected more than 50 villages around the peak. In June 2023, more than 12,000 people living on the volcano's slopes were moved to evacuation centres to protect them from ash and toxic gases escaping from the crater. The Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a belt of volcanoes and tectonic plates around the Pacific, and the region has frequent earthquakes and eruptions. Spiegel Online noted that the most violent volcanic eruption in the Philippines in recent decades was the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, which killed more than 800 people.