A volcano monitoring station on the western flank of Mayon Volcano in Ligao City, Albay, has been rendered inoperable after thieves cut and took critical cables, disrupting real-time data collection in one of the country’s most closely watched hazard zones.

The Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, said personnel discovered the damage on April 19 during routine maintenance at the Ligao Observation Station in Paulog village, Ligao City, Albay Province.

Authorities said several meters of solar, battery and conduit cables, as well as LAN/FTP lines, were cut and stolen, disabling the station’s power supply and communications systems. The facility, commissioned in 2019, supports seismic and infrasound monitoring, visual observation via an IP camera, and data transmission for tracking volcanic activity.

“These items are essential to VMLI’s autonomous power generation, supply and storage and real-time volcano monitoring data communications,” the agency said in a statement.

It added that the station “operates broadband seismic and infrasound sensors for critical recording of a wide range of volcanic earthquakes and explosions from Mayon.”

The loss comes as Mayon remains active, with the station having contributed to analysis of the 2023 eruption and ongoing 2026 activity. The site also plays a role in detecting tectonic movement along a segment of the Philippine Fault Zone that runs through the Bicol Peninsula.

The agency warned that the theft could weaken monitoring coverage on the volcano’s western sector, potentially affecting early warning capabilities for nearby communities.

Citing Republic Act 10344, PHIVOLCS said the law penalizes “the unauthorized taking, stealing, keeping or tampering of government risk reduction and preparedness equipment, accessories and similar facilities.”

“DOST-PHIVOLCS strongly enjoins the local government units and communities in and around Mayon Volcano to help keep volcano monitoring facilities safe from such illegal acts so that operational coverage of every sector of the volcano can be sustained for their collective readiness and safety,” it said.

The agency urged the public to report any information related to the incident, adding that “any information concerning the above case of theft, as well as all prompt reporting of similar incidents in the future, will be of great importance to our collective safety.”