Bushfire hits Mayon Volcano's lower slopes — PHIVOLCS

A bushfire broke out at the southern lower slopes of Mayon Volcano on Thursday night after a rockfall incident, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said Friday.

In a social media bulletin, PHIVOLCS said the rockfall ignited the fire at about 8 p.m. on Thursday, which eventually died down by Friday morning.

"These images were taken by the Mayon Volcano Observatory, Legazpi City. Effusive eruption at Mayon Volcano continues for the 87th consecutive day," PHIVOLCS said.

"Alert Level 3 persists over Mayon Volcano," it added.

Under Alert Level 3, intensified unrest or magmatic unrest has been observed at the volcano.

Authorities strictly prohibit entry into the six-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ) and warned against unnecessary activity in the extended danger zone (EDZ).

Flying any aircraft close to the volcano is also prohibited due to potential ash and ballistic hazards.

According to PHIVOLCS, Mayon's restiveness may generate rockfalls, landslides, or avalanches; ballistic fragments; lava flows and lava fountaining; pyroclastic density currents; moderate-sized explosions; and lahars during heavy and prolonged rainfall. — VDV, GMA News