In brief
A moderately explosive eruption of Mayon Volcano on 31 October 2026 forced more than 1,400 people living within the volcano's 6‑km permanent danger zone to relocate to safer areas. The eruption produced a 3,000‑metre ash plume and prompted authorities to raise the volcano's alert status from level 2 to level 3.
More than 1,400 residents of Albay province were evacuated after Mayon Volcano erupted on Friday, 31 October 2026, according to local officials quoted by Xinhua. The eruption began at about 11:53 a.m. local time and produced a plume that rose 3,000 metres above the crater.
Following the eruption, Philippine authorities moved evacuees from the volcano’s 6‑km permanent danger zone (PDZ) into safer locations and strictly prohibited entry into the PDZ, citing potential hazards. The Philippine National Police issued the prohibition amid the heightened risk.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology announced a lift of Mayon’s alert level from 2 to 3 on the same day. Level 5 is the highest alert that can be issued for a volcano in the Philippines.
Mayon, known for its near‑perfect conical shape, has a long history of explosive eruptions that have prompted mass evacuations in the past. The recent eruption has increased concerns about ashfall and lahars in the surrounding communities.
No further complications were reported by Xinhua at the time of writing, and the situation remains under monitoring by national and local authorities.
