Phivolcs warns of lahar threat from Mayon Volcano due to heavy rains

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) urged the public to increase vigilance against possible lahar from Mayon Volcano.

This is due to the forecast of continued potentially high-volume rainfall across the Bicol Region, and heavy to intense rainfall expected over Albay Province, caused by the shear line.

This heavy rainfall could generate volcanic sediment flows or lahars, which are muddy streamflows.

Prolonged and heavy rainfall may also generate post-eruption lahars by incorporating loose material from remnant pyroclastic density current (PDC) deposits from the 2018 and 2023 eruptions.

The bulk of erodible PDC deposits are found in the watershed areas of the Mi-isi, Mabinit, Buyuan, Bonga, and Basud Channels.

Older, erodible eruption deposits on the slopes can also be remobilized as non-eruption lahars.

Communities downstream of these channels are threatened with inundation, burial, and wash away.