The Mayon volcano in the Philippines, known as the country's most active volcano, has recently shown increased volcanic activity. Lava began flowing down the volcano's slopes, indicating an effusive eruption. Teresito Bacolcol, the director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, stated that authorities are closely monitoring the situation on a day-to-day basis.
To ensure the safety of the residents, approximately 12,800 people living within a 6-kilometer radius of Mayon have been evacuated. There is a possibility that the high-risk zone may be expanded if the eruption becomes more violent. Despite the designation of the area as a permanent danger zone, many people continue to reside there due to a lack of alternative options.
Volcanologists have observed other signs of increased activity, including a higher number of rockfall events and tremors. Sulphur dioxide emissions have also tripled, posing health risks to those in proximity to the volcano.
Currently, the alert level for Mayon remains at three on the Philippines' five-step system, indicating a tendency towards a hazardous eruption in the coming weeks or days. As a precautionary measure, the province of Albay, where Mayon is located, has been placed under a state of emergency to facilitate the distribution of disaster relief funds if needed.
The Philippines is a seismically active region situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a zone of tectonic activity where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common. The country is also frequently affected by typhoons and tropical storms. In the midst of the volcanic activity, a typhoon is forecasted to hit the area later in the week.
In recent history, Mount Pinatubo's eruption in 1991 was the most powerful in the Philippines, resulting in the loss of over 800 lives and the dispersal of an ash cloud that traveled thousands of kilometers.