ALBAY, Philippines — Mayon Volcano showed renewed activity Wednesday morning after an ash emission was recorded from its summit crater, sending a grayish plume about 800 meters above the crater and drifting toward the east-northeast, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
The ash emission was recorded at around 8:30 a.m. on August 26, based on PHIVOLCS monitoring footage from the Mayon Volcano monitoring network. The plume was captured by the VMCB (Calbayog Observation Station) RasPi Camera.
Despite the latest ash emission, Mayon remains under Alert Level 2, which indicates a moderate level of volcanic unrest. PHIVOLCS has not raised the volcano’s alert status to Level 3 as of the latest update.
Mayon remains active
The latest ash emission comes amid continuing signs of activity at Mayon’s summit.
PHIVOLCS’ 24-hour monitoring recorded lava flow from the Basud, Bonga and Mi-isi gullies, along with at least nine volcanic earthquakes, visible crater glow and sulfur dioxide emissions reaching 2,381 tonnes per day.
The development also follows a major increase in Mayon’s sulfur dioxide emissions earlier this month.
On August 17, PHIVOLCS reported that sulfur dioxide emissions reached 8,393 tonnes per day, the highest level recorded since volcanic gas concentrations began declining in July. The agency said the sharp increase was accompanied by short-term swelling or pressurization in the northern and eastern portions of the volcano.
At that time, PHIVOLCS warned that elevated sulfur dioxide emissions could signal the possibility of renewed eruptive activity, although Mayon remained at Alert Level 2.
Another ash emission after recent activity
Wednesday’s ash emission is also not the first such event reported in recent weeks.
PHIVOLCS documented another ash plume from Mayon’s summit crater on August 12, when an emission was observed beneath thick cloud cover and was blown generally toward the northeast. Alert Level 2 was also in effect at that time.
Independent reporting from Inquirer.net likewise confirmed Wednesday’s August 26 ash emission, including the 8:30 a.m. observation, grayish plume and east-northeast direction of movement. Bombo Radyo also reported the event and confirmed that Alert Level 2 remained in place.
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program has also continued to classify Mayon’s activity as continuing eruptive activity, citing PHIVOLCS monitoring and the volcano’s recent gas emissions and ash activity.
What does Alert Level 2 mean?
Alert Level 2 does not mean that Mayon is currently experiencing a large explosive eruption.
Instead, it means the volcano is experiencing a moderate level of unrest, requiring continued monitoring and heightened preparedness because activity can change.
PHIVOLCS continues to warn the public to stay away from Mayon’s 6-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ).
The agency has previously warned that an escalation in activity could produce hazards such as pyroclastic density currents, rockfalls, ballistic fragments, lava flows, ashfall and lahars, particularly during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall.
The bigger concern: what happens next?
For now, the latest ash emission alone does not establish that Mayon is escalating to a major eruption.
But the combination of continuing lava activity, crater glow, volcanic earthquakes, recurring ash emissions and the sharp sulfur dioxide spike recorded earlier this month explains why PHIVOLCS continues to closely monitor the volcano.
For residents and communities around Mayon, authorities continue to emphasize vigilance and strict compliance with the Permanent Danger Zone restrictions.
The warning remains clear: Mayon is still restless—and the next changes in its activity could determine whether the current Alert Level 2 status remains or is eventually raised.
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