MAYON VOLCANO BULLETIN

6 January 2026

01:20 PM

This serves as a notice of alert level raise from Alert Level 2 (increasing unrest) to Alert Level 3 (increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption) of Mayon Volcano.

Since the Alert Level status was raised from Alert Level 1 to Alert Level 2 on 1 January 2026, repeated collapse of the unstable summit dome of Mayon Volcano has generated an increasing number and volume of rockfall events. A total of 346 rockfall events and 4 volcanic earthquakes were recorded since 1 January 2026, compared to 599 rockfall events from November to December 2025. These events had durations of one (1) to five (5) 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, signaling an increase in the rate of dome growth and the onset of extrusion of new lava at the crater. Pyroclastic density currents or PDCs on the Bonga (southeast) Gully began generating at 12:26 PM today from the collapse of newly extruded lava. The PDCs lasted at least three minutes based on the seismic record and emplaced within two kilometers of the summit crater. In contrast, SO₂ emission remains at baseline or background levels. Short-term ground deformation data from continuous GPS, electronic tilt, and EDM monitoring indicate persistent inflation of the eastern and southeastern slopes since June 2024. The overall monitoring parameters indicate that very slow extrusion of shallow degassed magma is ongoing and is incrementally increasing in rate; i.e., effusive magmatic eruption is taking place.

In view thereof, 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.  It is therefore recommended that the 6-km radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) be evacuated due to the danger of PDCs, lava flows, rockfalls and other volcanic hazards. Increased vigilance against pyroclastic density currents, lahars and sediment-laden streamflows along channels draining the edifice is also advised. Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft. Based on the current prevailing wind pattern, ash fall events may most likely occur on the south side of the volcano. DOST-PHIVOLCS maintains close monitoring of Mayon Volcano and any new development will be communicated to all concerned stakeholders.

DOST-PHIVOLCS