Over 300 Families Evacuated in Philippines After Ashfall from Mayon Volcano Pyroclastic Flow

MANILA, Philippines — More than 300 families have been evacuated after ash billowed from the Mayon volcano over the weekend due to the collapse of lava deposits from its slopes, officials said on Monday. The evacuation followed a pyroclastic flow on Saturday, when huge deposits of lava on the southwestern slope of the volcano cascaded down before nightfall, according to Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

The flow consisted of an avalanche of hot rocks, ash and gas, but there was no explosive eruption from Mayon, which has been erupting mildly on and off since January.

No deaths or injuries were reported from the pyroclastic flow. Massive clouds of ash scattered over 87 villages in three towns, catching many by surprise and slowing down motorists due to poor visibility, officials stated. “The ashfall was so thick that there was zero visibility even on the national road,” said Mayor Caloy Baldo of Camalig town.

“Some villagers panicked but we advised them to calm down,” Baldo added. Vegetable farms were damaged by the ashfall in Camalig, where it also killed four water buffaloes and one cow, Baldo said. A cleanup was underway in Camalig town, which has 8,000 people and is located in Albay province.

“It’s calm again now but the danger is always there,” Bacolcol said of Mayon's condition on Monday. Mayon volcano is 2,462 meters (8,077 feet) tall and is one of the Philippines’ top tourism draws because of its near-perfect cone shape. It is the most active of the country’s 24 volcanoes.

Authorities raised the five-step alert around Mayon to level 3 in January after a series of mild eruptions that caused intermittent rockfalls, some as big as cars, from its peak crater along with deadly pyroclastic flows. Alert level 5 means an explosive and life-threatening eruption is underway with deadly volcanic lava, pyroclastic flows, and heavy ashfall.