Mayon Volcano erupts: Phivolcs raises Alert Level 3, orders 6-km danger zone cleared in Albay
Mayon had a moderately explosive eruption on October 30, sending ash 3 km high. Phivolcs raised Alert Level 3 and urged evacuation of the 6-km danger zone.
At a glance
- Mayon Volcano in Albay, Philippines, had a 'moderately explosive' eruption at 11:53 a.m. local time on Friday, October 30, 2026, throwing an ash column about 3,000 metres above the summit.
- Phivolcs raised the alert from Level 2 to Level 3, which it says marks a new phase of magmatic eruption, and recommended evacuation of the 6-km Permanent Danger Zone.
- Ashfall was expected mainly south of the volcano, in Daraga, Camalig and Guinobatan; pilots were told to avoid flying near the summit.
- Albay Governor Noel Rosal suspended classes at all levels in public and private schools across the province until further notice.
- Phivolcs warned that lava flows and pyroclastic density currents could reach the upper and middle slopes over the coming days to weeks.
Mayon Volcano in the Philippine province of Albay erupted shortly before noon on Friday, October 30, 2026, sending a column of ash about three kilometres into the sky. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised the alert level from 2 to 3 and told authorities to clear everyone out of the 6-kilometre Permanent Danger Zone around the crater.
Phivolcs described the 11:53 a.m. event as a "moderately explosive eruption". In its advisory it said the volcano had entered a new phase of magmatic eruption — fresh magma is now driving the activity, not just steam and gas. A loud blast was reported by residents near the volcano. No deaths or injuries had been reported by early afternoon local time.
What Phivolcs is warning about
The agency listed the dangers it expects in the coming days and weeks:
| Hazard | What it means for people nearby |
|---|---|
| Pyroclastic density currents | Fast, very hot avalanches of gas, ash and rock that can travel down gullies well beyond the summit |
| Lava flows | Slow-moving lava on the upper and middle slopes |
| Rockfalls | Loose lava blocks rolling from the crater and the lava front |
| Ashfall | Fine ash mainly south of the volcano: Daraga, Camalig and Guinobatan |
| Lahars | Volcanic mudflows if heavy rain hits fresh ash deposits on the slopes |
| Aviation | Pilots told to avoid flying close to the summit because of ash |
Phivolcs said lava flows and pyroclastic currents could affect the upper to middle slopes "in the coming days to weeks". It also asked communities along river channels to watch for sediment-laden streams, a common problem around Mayon in the rainy months.
Schools shut across Albay
Albay Governor Noel Rosal suspended classes at every level in both public and private schools across the province, so that students and teachers could get home while the situation developed. The suspension stays in place until further notice. In past Mayon emergencies, schools near the volcano have also been used as evacuation centres, which often keeps them closed for longer.
The 6-km zone touches villages in several towns ringing the volcano, including Camalig, Guinobatan, Daraga, Malilipot, Santo Domingo, Tabaco and Ligao. An official count of evacuees had not been released by the time this report was published.
Mayon's restless year
Friday's eruption ends a short period of relative quiet. Mayon was placed on Alert Level 2 in early January 2026 and raised to Level 3 on January 6, when it last showed similar magmatic activity. It was brought back down and had stayed at Level 2 since August 5.
Mayon, about 330 kilometres south-east of Manila, is the most active volcano in the Philippines and one of the most recognisable in the world because of its almost perfect cone. It rises 2,462 metres above the Albay Gulf. It has erupted around 50 times in the past 400 years. Its deadliest eruption, in 1814, buried the town of Cagsawa; the ruined bell tower still stands as a tourist site.
In recent decades, early evacuation has meant few deaths. In June 2023, when Mayon last spent months at Alert Level 3, more than 20,000 people were moved to evacuation centres and lava flowed slowly down its slopes for weeks. That episode is the closest comparison for what Albay may face now.
Advice for residents and travellers
- Inside the 6-km zone: leave when local officials say so; do not return to check on homes or animals while the alert stays at Level 3.
- Ashfall areas: stay indoors, close windows, and wear an N95 or wet cloth mask outside. Cover water containers and clear ash from roofs carefully, as wet ash is heavy.
- Drivers: ash makes roads slippery and cuts visibility; use headlights and drive slowly.
- Flights: Legazpi-area flights may be delayed or cancelled; passengers should check with their airline before going to the airport.
- Foreign visitors: the US Embassy in Manila issued an alert to its citizens, and other embassies usually follow Phivolcs advice; tourists should avoid the volcano and its slopes.
What happens next
Phivolcs will keep issuing bulletins on earthquakes, gas output and ground swelling at the volcano. If activity grows into a hazardous eruption with large lava fountains, it can move Mayon to Alert Level 4, which would widen the danger zone and require much bigger evacuations. If it calms, the agency would keep Level 3 for some time before stepping down. GlobeHourly will update this story as new figures come in.
Questions people are asking
What does Mayon Alert Level 3 mean?
Alert Level 3 means Mayon is in a period of magmatic unrest with an eruption under way or possible within weeks. Phivolcs recommends evacuating the 6-km Permanent Danger Zone and warns of lava flows, pyroclastic currents and rockfalls.
Which towns are affected by Mayon ashfall?
Phivolcs said ash from the October 30, 2026 eruption was most likely to fall on communities south of the volcano, naming Daraga, Camalig and Guinobatan in Albay.
