More than 300 families were evacuated after thick ash clouds billowed from Mayon Volcano over the weekend, following the collapse of lava deposits along its slopes, officials said Monday.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the incident did not involve an explosive eruption. Instead, large volumes of accumulated lava on the volcano’s southwestern flank suddenly cascaded downward in a pyroclastic flow, a fast-moving avalanche of hot rocks, ash and gas, late Saturday.
Authorities confirmed no casualties, but ashfall spread across 87 villages in three towns, significantly reducing visibility and disrupting traffic. Local officials said many residents were caught off guard by the intensity of the ash clouds.
Camalig Mayor Caloy Baldo described the situation as severe, noting that visibility dropped to near zero along major roads.
While some residents initially panicked, authorities urged calm and coordinated evacuations.
The ashfall also caused damage to agriculture, particularly vegetable farms, and resulted in the death of several livestock, including water buffaloes and cattle. Cleanup operations are currently underway in affected communities in Albay province.
Officials said conditions around the volcano have since stabilized, but warned that risks remain.
Mayon Volcano, known for its near-perfect cone shape, is the most active among the Philippines’ 24 volcanoes.
Alert level 3 remains in place, indicating increased unrest and the potential for further hazardous activity, including pyroclastic flows and continued ash emissions.
