The state seismology agency raised Mayon Volcano's alert status to Level 2 on Thursday, warning citizens about a possible eruption amid increasing seismic activity and falling rocks at the volcano.
In a 6 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Mayon has been experiencing increasing unrest and heavy rockfall at its peak since November.
“This means that the current unrest is driven by shallow magmatic processes that could lead to dangerous magmatic eruptions,” it added.
Phivolcs said it recorded 599 rockfall incidents in the last two months of 2025, with the highest occurring on December 31, which saw 41 rockfall incidents.
“The elevated rocks at Mayon are an early indication of the development of a magmatic dome within the upper edifice before the eruption,” the agency said, citing similar conditions ahead of the volcano's 2023 eruption.
The seismology agency has also noted increasing cases of swelling in the ground, caused mainly by rising magma and gas pressure.
It said continued rockfall combined with ground swelling “could increase the likelihood of an eruption at Mayon's summit, creating life-threatening volcanic hazards that could impact nearby communities.”
Phivolcs called on the public to remain vigilant and refrain from entering within a six-kilometre radius of the volcano to reduce risks from sudden eruptions, pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), rockfalls, landslides and ballistic projectiles.
“Local government units should prepare communities within the PDC threat area for subsequent evacuation if the unrest suddenly escalates and the alert level is further raised,” it said.
Civil aviation authorities also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano's summit, mindful that ash and ballistic fragments from any sudden eruption could be hazardous to aircraft. – Adrian H. Halili