Mayon Volcano has registered its highest sulfur dioxide (SO_2) gas output in 16 years, indicating a sharp rise in internal volcanic activity even as surface lava flows show signs of slowing down.
In a recent advisory, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported that daily SO_2 emissions spiked to 7,475 tonnes on July 10, jumping significantly from the 4,569 tonnes documented the previous day. Highlighting the gravity of the surge, the state volcanology agency remarked:
“The current emission is more than three times higher than the average 2,300 tonnes per day recorded since the start of the ongoing eruption on Jan. 6, 2026.”
Despite the massive gas release, authorities are keeping Mayon under Alert Level 3. Visual observations show that lava continues to advance along the Basud, Bonga, and Mi-isi gullies, stretching up to 3.8 kilometers away from the crater.
Within a 24-hour observation window, monitoring networks also picked up 10 volcanic earthquakes, 241 rockfall incidents, and six pyroclastic density currents.
Ground deformation metrics reveal that magma is still shifting beneath the surface, evidenced by a brief deflation of the general volcanic structure paired with swelling on its northeastern slope.
Because of the heightened threat of sudden explosions, rockfalls, and flying volcanic debris, PHIVOLCS reiterates that the 6-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone remains strictly off-limits to everyone.