PDC News | August 9, 2006
Pacific Disaster Center

Philippines Continues to Brace for Mt. Mayon Eruption

A “hazardous eruption is imminent” for Mt. Mayon in the Philippines, according to the Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). On Monday, August 7, Mt. Mayon endured six small explosions within 40 minutes. However, seismic activity and gas output declined over the 24 hours ending at 8:00 a.m. August 9 (local time).

According to BBC, approximately 40,000 residents have been evacuated from an 8 kilometer danger zone surrounding the volcano. PHIVOLCS has maintained the alert status for Mayon at “level four”—indicating that an eruption could happen within days.

Please refer to the links below for the latest information on this developing situation:

Date Latest Updates
Ongoing Alert status from the PHIVOLCS and the Southwest Volcanic Research Center.
Ongoing Disaster briefs from AlertNet.
Ongoing Daily reporting from the Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance.
Ongoing Coverage from the BBC.
Historical Mt. Mayon background primer from the Virtual Information Center, PDC, and Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance.
 
Danger Zone1 Danger Zone2
Above: Residents of the now-evacuated volcanic danger zone. (Images: BBC).
Mayon1 Mayon2 Mayon3
Above Left and Center: Increasing volcanic activity around Mt. Mayon in the Philippines on August 7 prompted warnings of an “imminent eruption” by PHIVOLCS. Above Right: Approximately 40,000 people have been evacuated from the volcano’s vicinity. (Images: BBC).
Atlas
Above: Location of the Philippines' Mt. Mayon as depicted by PDC's Natural Hazards Atlas.