(UPDATE) LEGAZPI CITY — Mayon Volcano erupted on Saturday, spewing a big volume of pyroclastic materials from its crater that tumbled down the southwestern slopes and spread ash to severl areas in Albay as captured on videos by the Philippine Institute of Volcnology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and netizens.
Ashfall was evident in Camalig, Guinobatan and Ligao City.
Alert Level 3 remains in effect and entry into the 6-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone is prohibited.
Doreen Abelinde, Mayon Volcano Observatory officer-in-charge, said that they were closely monitoring the restive volcano and advised evacuees to remain in their temporary shelters.
Albay Gov. Noel Rosal called on residents to stay indoors, specifically in areas with ashfall, as protection against possible health hazards.
Rosal said that the provincial government has coordinated with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), which was preparing 250 boxes of facemasks for distribution to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices (MDRRMs) of Guinobatan, Camalig, Daraga and Ligao City.
Based on the OCD's initial report , Mayon's pyroclastic density current (PDC) occurred at Mi-isi Gully where ashfall blanketed 18 villages (barangay) in Guinobatan, namely Minto, Malabnig, Mapaco, Doña Tomasa, Agpay, San Rafael, Maguiron, Calzada, Iraya, Muladbucad Grande, Inamnan Pequeño, Inamnan Grande, Bubulusan, Lomacao, Maninila, Travesia, Lower Binogsacan and Ilawod.
In Camalig town, at least 17 villages were affected namely Cabangan, Salugan, Anoling, Sua, Quirangay, Tumpa, Villages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, a portion of Barangay Libod, portion of Barangay Ilawod, portion of Barangay Gapo and portion of Barangay Sumlang.
In Ligao City, the OCD Bicol reported that 17 villages were affected namely Busac, Allang, Palapas, Francia, Abella, Malama, Paulba, Maonon, Balanac, Tupas, Tiongson, San Vicente, Tandarura, Pandan, Bacong, Cabarian, Pinamaniquian and Oma-Oma.
Mayon Volcano has been in a state of "effusive eruption" since January 2026 but the strongest recorded was this Saturday.
