More than 1,100 families in Albay have left their homes as Mount Mayon stayed restless, forcing thousands into evacuation centers where some evacuees have started to fall ill.

In a report by Ian Cruz on Balitanghali Monday, January 12, 2026, authorities said 1,133 families, or over 4,000 individuals, have evacuated from six localities in Albay due to Mayon’s continued activity.

The volcano remained under Alert Level 3 as it showed signs of sustained unrest, including lava activity and rockfalls.

PHIVOLCS reported that Mayon continued to produce lava dome growth and lava flows. In the past 24 hours, monitoring stations recorded 133 rockfall events and 37 pyroclastic density currents, locally known as “uson.” Steam emissions reached up to 800 meters high and drifted toward the east, southeast, and northeast. Sulfur dioxide emission was measured at 526 tons.

PHIVOLCS Director Teresito Bacolcol said the volcano may be experiencing magma recharge, which could prolong eruptive activity.

“Posibleng may episode daw ng magma recharge ang Mayon. Bagama’t tumigil na ang naobserbahang pagtaas ng seismic energy, posible pa rin na magdulot ito ng pagpapatuloy ng eruptive activity ng bulkan,” Bacolcol said.

In Tabaco City, the hardest-hit area, 489 families or 1,793 individuals are now staying in five evacuation centers. City officials said Tabaco has the highest number of evacuees in the province.

Health workers reported that some evacuees have begun to suffer from coughs and colds due to crowded conditions. Among them is eight-month-old Princes Rianne, who is staying with her family inside an evacuation tent.

“Nahihirapan po kasi mainit dito po sa loob ng tent,” Mary Rose Ragos, the infant’s mother, said.

Authorities said about five to seven percent of evacuees have shown symptoms of cough and colds so far, but the number may still increase.

In Ligao City, 26 families or 94 individuals evacuated from Barangay Baligang after their homes were found to be inside the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone. One of them, Sarlito Bobis, said he followed evacuation orders even though his house was only a few steps away from the safe zone.

“Sumusunod dahil ‘yun sa kapitan at saka ‘yung militar, pabalik-balik kasi lumikas kasi nasa loob ng danger zone,” Bobis said.

Local governments said they are preparing for the possibility of a higher alert level. In Tabaco City, the City Health Office plans to buy flu vaccines to protect vulnerable evacuees.

“We are planning to purchase, emergency purchase ng flu vaccine, kasi kapag naka-flu vaccine ang bawat individual, especially the very young and very old, yung very vulnerable natin, yung usual days ng symptoms ng cough and colds ay male-lessen,” Dr. Liezel Loria Cuales-Duncan, OIC City Health Officer of Tabaco City, she said.

Authorities continue to monitor Mayon closely as evacuation efforts and health support remain in place across Albay.

(with reports from Ian Cruz, Balitanghali)