Mayon Volcano Eruption Displaces Over 300 Families in Philippines

Kathmandu. The lives of more than three hundred families have been affected due to the sudden fall of thick ash from the famous but risky Mayon volcano in the Philippines. According to officials, a large amount of ash spread when the lava accumulated on the slope of the volcano suddenly fell over the weekend, forcing the immediate evacuation of surrounding settlements.

According to officials, although there was no major eruption from Mayon, a pyroclastic flow was generated when a large deposit of lava accumulated on its southwestern slope suddenly fell. According to Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, this flow, a mixture of hot rocks, ash, and gas, descended rapidly before Saturday night, spreading fear and panic in the surrounding areas.

It has been informed that there has been no human casualty from this incident. However, the lives of the people were affected by the thick cloud of ash that spread over 87 villages in three municipalities. Officials said that traffic was also disrupted due to extremely low visibility.

According to Caloy Baldo, the mayor of Camalig town at the foot of the volcano, the density of the ash was so high that visibility on the main highway was almost zero. He informed that although some local residents were scared, the administration urged them to remain calm.

Agriculture has also been affected by the ash. Baldo said that vegetables crops have been damaged, and four water buffaloes and one cow have died in the Camalig area. In this area, which has a population of about eight thousand people under Albay province, cleaning and restoration work is currently underway.

According to Director Bacolcol, although the situation appears somewhat calm now, the risk has not completely subsided. He mentioned that Mayon volcano is always kept under close surveillance.

Located at an altitude of 2,462 meters (8,077 feet) above sea level, Mayon volcano is considered a major tourist attraction in the Philippines due to its symmetrical cone shape. However, this volcano is also the most active among the country's 24 active volcanoes.

Earlier in January, following a series of small eruptions, officials raised the risk level to 3 under a five-stage warning system. It is reported that those eruptions ejected car-sized rocks from the summit crater and generated deadly pyroclastic flows.

According to the warning system, if the level reaches 5, the volcano will have extremely dangerous eruptions, lava flows, heavy ashfall, and pyroclastic flows, posing a serious risk to human life.