Mayon Volcano in Albay province, northeastern Philippines, has been spewing lava and noxious gases since last week, causing nearly 15,000 people to leave their homes. The volcano, which stands at 2,462 metres (8,077 feet), was placed on high alert after tremors and hundreds of rockfalls were reported. The state volcanology and seismology agency has warned that the volcanic activity may persist for a few months, and residents living within 6km (3.7 miles) of the volcano on Luzon island may have to stay in evacuation centres.
Evacuated residents are currently sheltering in schools and community centres, while an unspecified number of residents remain within the permanent danger zone below Mayon. Larry Llenaresas, a community leader in Albay, has appealed for more food and drinking water for the displaced. Authorities have set up checkpoints to prevent residents from returning and have advised those living farther away from the volcano to be ready for possible evacuation.
Mayon is a popular tourist attraction because of its near-perfect conical shape. Dorothy Colle, a provincial tourism official, has said that while the no-go zone is being enforced, people are still flocking to observation stations to witness the bright lava flows, which are particularly visible at night.
The eruption is the latest natural calamity to test the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who took office in June last year amid an economy that was shattered by two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, which deepened poverty and unemployment. Some of his cabinet officials have been deployed to Albay to help distribute food and reassure displaced villagers.
Mayon is the most active of 24 known volcanoes in the Philippine archipelago. It last erupted in 2018, displacing tens of thousands of people. In 1814, another eruption buried entire villages and killed more than 1,000 people.
The Philippines is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, where volcanic activity and earthquakes are common. The Ring of Fire is a horseshoe-shaped area that stretches from the western coast of North and South America to the eastern coast of Asia, passing through the Philippines, Indonesia, and New Zealand. It is home to 75% of the world’s active and dormant volcanoes and is responsible for 90% of the world’s earthquakes.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has been closely monitoring Mayon Volcano since it was placed on Alert Level 2 on 14 September 2021. Alert Level 2 means that there is probable magmatic intrusion that may or may not lead to an eruption. Phivolcs has advised the public to avoid entering the 6km (3.7 miles) radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) due to the danger of rockfalls, landslides, and sudden explosions or dome collapses that may generate hazardous volcanic flows.
Phivolcs has also warned that ashfall may affect communities downwind of the volcano, and that residents should cover their noses and mouths with a damp, clean cloth or dust mask if they need to go outside. They should also keep doors and windows closed to prevent ash from entering their homes.
In conclusion, the ongoing eruption of Mayon Volcano in Albay province, northeastern Philippines, has caused nearly 15,000 people to leave their homes. The state volcanology and seismology agency has warned that the volcanic activity may persist for a few months, and residents living within 6km (3.7 miles) of the volcano on Luzon island may have to stay in evacuation centres. The Philippines is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, where volcanic activity and earthquakes are common. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has advised the public to avoid entering the 6km (3.7 miles) radius Permanent Danger Zone due to the danger of rockfalls, landslides, and sudden explosions or dome collapses that may generate hazardous volcanic flows.