Marilyn Cahatol

People enjoy a view of Mayon volcano from Quintinian Hills in Daraga Albay on June 16, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176767596966620230616-mayon-volcano-visitors-JC-11.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>People enjoy a view of Mayon volcano from Quintinian Hills in Daraga Albay on June 16, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News </div>MANILA (UPDATED) — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Tuesday, January 6, has raised the Mayon Volcano to alert level 3 due to onset of dome collapse pyroclastic density current (PDC) or &quot;uson.”Philvolcs recorded 85 rockfall events in the volcano within 24 hours from January 5 to 6.The volcano recorded 346 rockfall events since Jan. 1, 2026. For context, 599 rockfall events were seen from November to December last year.The agency said Mayon is exhibiting a magmatic eruption of a summit lava dome.It has also increased the chances of lava flow and hazardous PDC affecting the upper to middle slopes of the volcano.Ashfall events may most likely occur. There may also be potential explosive activity within weeks or days, Phivolcs stressed.Phivolcs recommended residents within the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone (PDZ) to be evacuated due to the danger of PDCs, lava flows, rockfalls and other volcanic hazards.It also advised increased vigilance against PDC, lahars and sediment-laden streamflows along channels draining the edifice.Flying of aircraft close to the volcano&#x27;s summit, meanwhile, is not advised.Ma. Antonia Bornas, chief of Phivolcs Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division, said different scenarios may be expected, one being slow lava dome and short lava flow extrusion, which means alert level 3 will be maintained.Alert level 4 may be raised if lava fountaining and lava flow with occasional explosions and PDCs within the 6-km PDZ are monitored.Meanwhile, the status may be raised to alert level 5 if explosive eruption with high-intensity lava fountaining, long lava flows and PDCs exceed the 6-km radius.“Sa ngayon ang likely scenario, katulad po ng 2023, meron pong tsansa na medyo mas malakas ng kaunti,” Bornas said.“Isa pang scenario na hindi natin na-emphasize, pwede ring tumigil yung eruption anytime. Anything can happen in a highly active like Mayon, but the likely scenario is the one similar to 2023,” she added.Some 20,000 people fled their homes when Mayon <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/06/17/23/erupting-mayon-continues-to-ooze-lava-alert-3-remains">last erupted</a> June 2023. The Mayon Volcano, located in Albay, Bicol, was <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/1/mayon-volcano-alert-level-raised-to-level-2-0751">raised </a>to alert level 2 on January 1 after Phivolcs recorded 47 rockfall events in a single day.Its average rockfall increased to 21 events per day in the last week of December, from the average of 10 events per day in the last two months of 2025, said Phivolcs.The agency said it detected ground deformation near the volcano, an indication that magma and hydrothermal fluids may be climbing to the surface.Aside from Mayon, three other active volcanoes are currently at alert level statuses. Kanlaon Volcano is in alert level 2, while Bulusan and Taal Volcanoes are in alert level 1.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/10/24/kanlaon-volcano-minor-eruption-sends-ash-2-000-meters-into-the-sky-2113">Kanlaon Volcano minor eruption sends ash 2,000 meters into the sky</a></div>The Philippine Coast Guard said it has implemented heightened disaster preparedness measures in Bicol, especially in coastal and island communities that may be affected by Mayon’s activities.Deployable response groups of the Coast Guard District Bicol are on standby to support evacuation operations and interagency response efforts, PCG said.<div> </div><div>RELATED VIDEO:</div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hm7UlgH2_JY?si=RQDNDkbAAwBKSZTc" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> </div>

Philvolcs recorded 85 rockfall events in the volcano within 24 hours from January 5 to 6.

Philvolcs recorded 85 rockfall events in the volcano within 24 hours from January 5 to 6.

Phivolcs raises Mayon Volcano to alert level 3

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Phivolcs raises Mayon Volcano to alert level 3

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 06, 2026 01:14 PM PHT

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Updated January 06, 2026 05:03 PM PHT

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Phivolcs

alert level 3

Mayon Volcano

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