Just months after being hit with a number of fatal typhoons, the Philippines is faced with another pending disaster. Ten of thousands of individuals have been forced to evacuate their homes due to Mayon Volcano showing signs of increased activity.
Mayon Volcano is located in the province of Albay , in the Bicol Region, on the island of Luzon . Mayon Volcano is the most active volcano in the Philippines and has erupted approximately 50 times in the last 400 years. This volcano is well known around the Philippines and the world for its perfect cone shape.
On 14 December 2009 , the Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS-DOST) raised alert levels for Mayon Volcano to Alert Level 3 which means that magma is close to the crater and hazardous explosive eruptions are imminent.
As of 18 December 2009 , the status of Mayon Volcano remained at Alert Level 3. A total of 248 volcanic quakes and tremors were documented by the seismic network. Of the 248 volcanic quakes, 50 were reported as being explosive. The volcanic explosions have produced dark grey ash that reached up to 1000 metres above the summit before it drifted southwest.
Households within a 6km radius of the volcano have been forced to evacuate their homes and are residing in evacuation centres. As of 18 December 2009 , 38 528 individuals had been evacuated.
AAI has been assessing the recent situation and is on stand by to respond if humanitarian assistance is needed. AAI has been actively involved in providing much needed medical aid in the Philippines since the typhoons.