Manila: Philippine authorities raised the alert level for Mount Mayon from 2 to 3 on a 0-5 scale after the volcano produced a "moderately explosive eruption" on Friday, sending a dark ash column about 3,000 metres into the sky. The blast lasted nearly six minutes, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage in surrounding towns and cities. However, Phivolcs called for evacuations within six kilometres of the crater and warned that ash had drifted southwest over nearby population centres.

The institute said Mayon has entered "a new phase of magmatic eruption," with increased chances of lava flows and hazardous pyroclastic density currents affecting the upper to middle slopes in the coming days to weeks. It urged local officials to move residents away from the crater due to the danger of pyroclastic flows, lava flows and rockfalls, and advised aircraft to avoid flying close to the mountain.

Mayon, a 2,462-metre near-perfect cone about 330 kilometres southeast of Manila, is one of the country's most active volcanoes. In June 2023, more than 12,000 people living on its lower slopes were moved to evacuation centres. The Philippines sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," making earthquakes and volcanic activity common.

Join on Rehaab Online WhatsApp Group (Click here to join the group)

Follow Rehaab Online Instagram for More Updates (Click here)