The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) announced Tuesday it has raised the alert status over Mayon Volcano in Albay to Level 3 due to “onset of dome collapse” attributed to pyroclastic density current (PDC) or “uson.”
In a Facebook reel, the Phivolcs shared footage of thick smoke billowing from the crater of Mayon, which has been showing increased signs of unrest recently. The state seismic agency warned that the volcano’s summit dome has become unstable and generated increased number of rockfall events.
“DOST-PHIVOLCS is now raising the alert status of Mayon Volcano from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 3. This means that Mayon is exhibiting magmatic eruption of a summit lava dome with increased chances of lava flows and hazardous PDCs or ‘uson’ affecting the upper to middle slopes of the volcano and of potential explosive activity within days or weeks,” Phivolcs said in its updated bulletin.
Seismologists noted that a total of 346 rockfall events and four volcanic earthquakes were recorded in the active volcano since January 1, 2026 compared to 599 monitored from November to December 2025.
Phivolcs said these events lasted from one to five minutes and transported lava debris within a kilometer range of the southern upper slopes.
“The volume of discrete rockfall with observed incandescence at nighttime increased yesterday (Monday, January 5), signaling an increase in the rate of dome growth and the onset of extrusion of new lava,” the agency explained.
Affected communities and the general public are advised to stay out of the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone amid the risks associated with the ongoing unrest of Mayon Volcano.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated.
