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Panic in Philippines as Mayon volcano ashfall blankets towns in total darkness

More than 300 families have been evacuated after massive amounts of ash billowed from the Mayon volcano over the weekend due to the collapse of…

By Samantha Johnson / May 4, 2026
More than 300 families have been evacuated after massive amounts of ash billowed from the Mayon volcano over the weekend due to the collapse of lava deposits from its slopes, Philippine officials said on Monday.

There was no explosive eruption from Mayon, which has been erupting mildly on and off since January, but huge deposits of lava on its southwestern slope suddenly cascaded down in a pyroclastic flow – an avalanche of hot rocks, ash and gas – before nightfall on Saturday, said Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

No deaths or injuries were reported, but massive clouds of ash scattered over 87 villages in three towns, catching many by surprise and slowing down motorists due to poor visibility.

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“The ashfall was just so thick and there was zero visibility even in our national road,” said Caloy Baldo, mayor of Camalig town, which lies near the volcano’s foothills. “Some villagers panicked but we advised them to calm down.”

Thick clouds of ash from Mayon are seen from Daraga, Albay province, Philippines on Saturday. Photo: AP
Thick clouds of ash from Mayon are seen from Daraga, Albay province, Philippines on Saturday. Photo: AP

Vegetable farms were damaged by the ashfall, which also killed four water buffaloes and a cow in Camalig, Baldo said, adding that a clean-up was under way in his town of 8,000 people in Albay province.

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“It’s calm again now but the danger is always there,” Bacolcol said of Mayon’s condition on Monday.

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