Dome collapse, crater glow seen at Mayon Volcano – PHIVOLCS

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Wednesday evening reported an “ongoing dome collapse pyroclastic density current” at the Mayon Volcano.

In posts on its social media accounts, PHIVOLCS shared camera footages captured from 6:36 p.m. to 7 p.m. that showed the crater glow or “banaag” at the summit of Mayon Volcano.

“Superheated volcanic gas from new magma lights up the atmosphere above the crater, and incandescent lava dome at the crater with newly-laid incandescent material from rockfall and short pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) or ‘uson’ on the Bonga Gully shed from the dome,” it said.

PHIVOLCS warned that Alert Level 3 remains in effect over Mayon Volcano and that entry into its six-kilometer permanent danger zone is prohibited.

Earlier on Wednesday afternoon, PHIVOLCS said it recorded more than 130 rockfall events at Mayon Volcano in the past 24 hours.

Rockfall events refer to rocks falling from the upper portion of the volcano, triggered by the effects of increasing lava.

PHIVOLCS director Teresito Bacolcol said they have been monitoring the rise in rockfall activity since November, but noted that the numbers climbed further in the last week of December and the first week of 2026.

“Meron tayong lava dome growth. Ito yung makapal at malapot na lava sa ibabaw ng bulkan ang naiipon siya duon, so lumalaki siya, so ibig sabihin nadagdagan ang lava,” he said.

(There is lava dome growth. This is the thick and viscous lava at the top of the volcano and it collects there, so the lava dome grows.)

On Tuesday, PHIVOLCS placed Mayon Volcano under Alert Level 3 after it recorded the occurrence of PDC or “uson.”

Alert Level 3 means a “high level of volcanic unrest” and that the Mayon Volcano is “exhibiting magmatic eruption of a summit lava dome, with increased chances of lava flows and hazardous PDCs or uson affecting the upper to middle slopes of the volcano and of potential explosive activity within days or weeks.” 

Mayon Volcano was last placed under Alert Level 3 in 2023 for six months before being lowered to Alert Level 2.

EXPLAINER: Meaning of PHIVOLCS alert levels per active volcano

On Wednesday afternoon, Bacolcol said Mayon Volcano’s current signals appear similar to what was observed in 2023, but pointed to a key difference this year: signs of swelling or ground deformation at the volcano. — JMA, GMA Integrated News