The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Monday night placed Mayon Volcano on alert level 3, which means that magma is at the crater and that hazardous eruption is possible within weeks.
Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said the volcano’s current activity include lava coming down from Mayon’s crater. Volcanologist Ed Laguerta said huge glowing lava fragments and super-hot boulders are rolling down from Mayon’s crater late Monday, which could be seen from as far as 12 kilometers away.
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda ordered the evacuation of up to 12,000 residents within an 8-kilometer radius of the volcano’s crater. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said 51,625 people in 65 villages have been affected.
Mayon Volcano is a popular tourist destination because of its near-perfect cone. It is considered as the most active volcano in the Philippines and has erupted 50 times in the last 500 years
