The entry of individuals into the six-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) of Mayon Volcano has been banned as its alert level was raised due to "increased unrest," the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Monday, Oct. 10.

NDRRMC spokesperson Rafaelito Bernardo Alejandro IV said heightened monitoring is being conducted on Mayon Volcano after it was placed raised to Alert Level 2 by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) over the weekend.

“Ang dapat pong gawin ay strict enforcement ng hindi pagpapapasok or walang activity sa six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone lalo na sa southeast, southwest sector kung saan nakikita natin na pwedeng magkaroon ng avalanche or ‘yung land ay magbiyak ‘yung kanyang crater kung mayroong activity (What we need to do is the strict enforcement of banning or stoppage of activites within the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone especially in the southeast, southwest sector where we can see a possibility of avalanche or the break-up of its crater in case of an activity),” Alejandro said in a public briefing.

Flying of any aircraft close to the volcano was also prohibited under Alert Level 2.

Local government units (LGUs) in Albay were also told to prepare for any preventive measures such as forced evacuation in case Mayon’s unrest further escalates.

“Kailangan natin siguraduhin na handa lahat ng responders o LGUs for that matter para magreact tayo in case na i-elevate pa or may further activities. Kailangan natin i-revisit ang contingency plan, magstockpile na tayo ng mga resources, and of course magconduct na tayo ng early assessment habang nasa Alert Level 2 pa lang siya (We need to ensure that all responders or LGUs are prepared for that matter so we can react in case of an alert elevation or further activities. We need to revisit the contingency plan, stockpile our resources, and of course conduct an early assessment while it is still on Alert Level 2),” Alejandro stated.

“Ang babantayan lang natin dito sa side ng Phivolcs ay ‘yung pagtaas ng magma kung mayroon, pag-increase ng volcanic earthquakes titignan natin ‘yan kasi these are indicators na mayroong major activity na mangyayari (What we are monitoring now on the side of Phivolcs is the elevation of magma if there is any, we also monitor the increase in frequency of volcanic earthquakes because these are indicators that there will be a major activity that will happen),” he noted.

“It will take months pa bago ma-elevate into further maging Level 3 but habang nasa Level 2 siya, pwede pong mangyari ‘yung phreatic explosion (It will take months before we elevate the alert to Level 3 but while it is under Level 2, we can expect a phreatic explosion),” he stated.

The Phivolcs raised the alert of Mayon Volcano to Level 2 last Friday after experts observed an increased unrest on Mayon’s activities.

It released 391 tons of sulfur dioxide last October 1 while its edifice appeared to be slightly inflated, according to Phivolcs. A faint crater glow was also observed at the summit of the volcano and at least one volcanic earthquake was recorded over the weekend while plumes were seen drifting down the volcano.

Among those being monitored by the authorities are sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions; rockfalls, landslides and avalanches; and lahars during heavy and prolonged rainfall.

Last month, authorities reportedly monitored new residential structures, a school building, and paved road that were built within the six-km PDZ around Mayon Volcano, alarming the Office of Civil Defense in Bicol region (OCD-5). The OCD has encouraged LGUs to prevent the establishment of any structure within the danger zone to prevent casualties in case of an emergency such as a vocanic eruption.

Famed for its perfect-shaped cone, Mayon Volcano last erupted on January 13, 2018 when it exhibited a phreatic explosion. In 2020, its crater also showed crater glow which was attributed to magma that were present underneath the surface of the volcano.

According to Phivolcs, one of the most destructive eruptions of Mayon Volcano happened on Feb. 1, 1814 when it killed approximately 1,200 people.