Mayon’s pyroclastic flows intensify

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January 9, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — A surge in pyroclastic density currents has been detected at Mayon Volcano in Albay in the past 24 hours, although these do not indicate escalation to a stronger eruptive phase, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Phivolcs said that during a 24-hour observation period, from midnight of Jan. 7 to Jan. 8, one volcanic earthquake, 162 rockfall events and 50 pyroclastic density currents occurred in Mayon.

The agency recorded a visible crater glow, sulfur dioxide emissions at 702 tons per day, a volcanic plume rising 200 meters and continued inflation of the volcano’s edifice.

Phivolcs said a dome of pyroclastic density currents collapsed at 6:51 a.m. yesterday, generating grayish ash clouds that rose 1,000 meters and drifted west-northwest.

A total of 40 discrete pyroclastic density currents were logged from midnight to noon and thin ashfall events occurred in the cities of Legazpi and Ligao as well as in the towns of Bacacay, Camalig and Daraga.

At 11:40 a.m., Phivolcs observed a newly formed dark lava dome at the summit, shedding pyroclastic density currents along the Miisi Gully on the southern upper slopes.

At midday, 49 pyroclastic density currents were recorded along the Basud, Bonga and Miisi gullies.

Phivolcs chief Teresito Bacolcol said the surge in the number of pyroclastic density currents does not indicate escalation to a stronger eruptive phase.

“These pyroclastic density currents are confined to upper to mid-slopes of Mayon Volcano, which means there is an ongoing lava extrusion and growth of the lava dome. This indicates that an eruptive process is ongoing at the summit, although it is not yet explosive,” Bacolcol said.

He said that pyroclastic density currents are extremely dangerous due to the speed and temperature of the materials.

“These are hot, fast, and contain ash, rocks and gas, and can be fatal to people, Bacolcol said.

Phivolcs said that placing Mayon under Alert Level 4 is possible, depending on clear and sustained escalations such as a sudden increase in volcanic earthquakes, rapid lava extrusion, lava fountaining or significant changes in sulfur dioxide emissions.

Meanwhile, Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island emitted ash twice on Wednesday, bringing the number of such events to five since Jan. 3.

Phivolcs said the first emission lasted an hour and 48 minutes. The second lasted six hours and 21 minutes.

Aside from ash emissions, state volcanologists said they detected four volcanic quakes in Kanlaon.

Mari-Andylene Quintia, Phivolcs resident volcanologist at the Kanlaon Volcano Observatory in La Carlota City, said that more ash emission events are expected.

Ash emissions are a precursor to a possible explosive eruption,Quintia said.

Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 2. Entry to the volcano’s permanent danger zone is strictly prohibited.  – Gilbert Bayoran