A screengrab from a video shared on X by the PHIVOLCS-DOST of Mayon Volcano in the Philippines on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Manila: The Philippine authorities announced on Saturday that the Mayon Volcano, the country's most active volcano, has erupted, blanketing surrounding villages in ash.
The Philippine News Agency reported that authorities said approximately 52 villages around the volcano in Albay province, 330 kilometers southeast of Manila, have been affected, and lava has begun flowing down the mountain's slopes.
LOOK: Sped-up camera footage shows lava flow collapse-fed pyroclastic density current at the southwestern slopes of Mayon Volcano at 05:38 PM on 02 May 2026, as captured by the PHIVOLCS Quick Response Team. Alert Level 3 remains in effect over Mayon Volcano. Entry into the 6-km… pic.twitter.com/QlMoJgqo3j
— PHIVOLCS-DOST (@phivolcs_dost) May 2, 2026
Authorities have begun preemptive evacuations, particularly in areas within the danger zone.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology warned of the potential for landslides and rockfalls, as well as lava flows, volcanic fountains, and moderate-strength explosions.
Mayon's most violent eruption occurred in 1814, killing more than 1,200 people and burying an entire town under volcanic ash. Another eruption in 1993 killed 79 people.
