Volcano erupts in the Philippines – risk of widespread lava flow surges

Mount Mayon, the most active volcano in the Philippines, erupted powerfully today, sending an ash cloud 3,000 meters high. The alert level was raised to three, and the risk of a widespread lava flow increased. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology reported ash emission from the crater in Albay province.

Mount Mayon, the most active volcano in the Philippines, erupted powerfully today (Friday), sending an ash cloud approximately 3,000 meters high. The alert level was raised to three, and the risk of a widespread lava flow increased significantly. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported a rapid emission of ash above the crater in Albay province, southeast of the capital Manila. Light winds dispersed the ash toward the southwest, and ashfall is expected in the areas of Daraga and Guinobatan. Mount Mayon, rising to 2,462 meters, is the most active of the country's 24 active volcanoes, with 54 recorded eruptions since 1616. The deadliest eruption occurred in 1814, when the town of Cagsawa was buried and about 1,200 people perished. In 2018, an eruption led to the displacement of tens of thousands of residents, and in June 2023, over 12,000 residents were evacuated within a six-kilometer radius. Despite the ban, thousands of residents continue to live in the area.