Mayon erupts as Alert Level rises to 3 and ash spreads south, Philippines

Mayon Volcano produces an ash column during the moderately explosive eruption on October 30, 2026. DOST-PHIVOLCS raised the volcano to Alert Level 3 after the eruption. Credit: DOST-PHIVOLCS PHIVOLCS said Alert Level 3 means an increased tendency toward a hazardous eruption and described the October 30 activity as a new phase of magmatic eruption, with increased chances of lava flows and hazardous pyroclastic density currents affecting the upper to middle slopes in the immediate days to weeks. The eruption generated a dense, rapidly ascending and billowing ash plume that reached 3 000 m (9 843 feet) above the summit crater. Moderate winds carried the plume west-southwest, while PHIVOLCS expected ashfall in Daraga, Guinobatan, Camalig and adjacent municipalities in Albay. PHIVOLCS recommended evacuation of the 6-km (3.7-mile) Permanent Danger Zone because of pyroclastic density currents, lava flows, rockfalls and other volcanic hazards. Pyroclastic density currents, locally called uson, are fast-moving mixtures of hot gas, ash and volcanic fragments that move downslope under gravity and can extend rapidly away from an erupting vent. Increased vigilance was also advised along channels draining Mayon because of the danger from pyroclastic density currents, lahars and sediment-laden streamflows. PHIVOLCS said civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying close to the summit because volcanic ash can endanger aircraft. Satellite monitoring showed that the ash hazard continued for hours after the initial eruption. Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center advisory 2026/813, issued at LT on October 30, said Himawari-9 imagery continuously detected volcanic ash at LT. The observed ash cloud extended from the surface to FL180 and was moving south at 20 kt. FL180 represents a pressure altitude of approximately 5.5 km (18 000 feet) under standard aviation conditions. Tokyo VAAC forecast volcanic ash from the surface to FL190, approximately 5.8 km (19 000 feet), by LT on October 31. The advisory showed no volcanic ash expected in its subsequent 12-hour and 18-hour forecast fields. Volcanic seismicity also increased ahead of the eruption. PHIVOLCS recorded four volcanic earthquakes in the October 28 monitoring period, 35 in the October 29 period and 101 in the October 30 period. The latest total included 18 volcanic tremors lasting between one and eight minutes. Volcanic earthquakes and tremor reflect movement, fracturing or pressure changes within a volcanic system, but their occurrence alone does not establish exactly how an eruption will develop. PHIVOLCS assesses seismicity together with deformation, gas emissions and visual observations when evaluating changes in volcanic activity. Ground-deformation measurements before the eruption showed continued inflation of Mayon’s edifice, with short-term deflation on the northeastern sector.