Mayon Volcano

Updated: May 22, 2025 02:21 GMT - refresh

Stratovolcano

Luzon Island, Philippines, 13.26°N / 123.69°E

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Summit height: 2462 m / 8,077 ft

Current status: minor activity or eruption warning (3 out of 5)

Last update: 24 Jul 2024 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)

The majestic, perfectly symmetrical Mayon stratovolcano seen from the northwest during its eruption in 2018.

Mayon, the most famous of the active volcanoes of the Philippines, is a perfect stratovolcano rising to 2462 m on Luzon Island. It erupts very frequently.

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Mayon webcams / live data | News/Updates | Earthquakes | Images

Typical eruption style: Explosive.
Mayon volcano eruptions: 1616, 1766, 1800, 1811(?), 1814, 1827, 1834, 1839, 1845, 1846, 1851, 1853, 1855, 1857, 1858, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1862, 1863(?), 1868, 1871-72, 1872, 1873, 1876, 1876, 1881-82, 1885, 1886-87, 1888, 1890, 1891-92, 1893, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1900, 1902(?), 1928, 1928, 1939, 1941, 1943, 1947, 1968, 1978, 1984, 1993, 1999-2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2003(?), 2004, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2018

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location
May 20, 06:27 pm (Universal Time)	1.8 34 km	29 km (18 mi) to the SE	20 km east of Legaspi, Province of Albay, Bicol, Philippines 1 report	Info

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Background

Mayon is the archetype of a symmetrical stratovolcano and one of the world most active ones. It has frequent eruptions producing pyroclastic flows, mud flows and ash falls that repeatedly triggered large-scale evacuations. Mayon's most violent eruption, in 1814, killed more than 1200 people and devastated several towns.
the volcano rises 2462 m above the Albay Gulf and has very steep upper slopes averaging 35-40 degrees capped by a small summit crater.
Historical records of eruptions date back to 1616 and range from strombolian to basaltic plinian, with cyclical activity beginning with basaltic eruptions, followed by longer term andesitic lava flows. Eruptions occur predominately from the central conduit and have also produced lava flows that travel far down the flanks. Pyroclastic flows and mudflows have commonly swept down many of the approximately 40 ravines that radiate from the summit and have often devastated populated lowland areas.
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Source: adapted from GVP / Smithsonian Institution

Mayon Volcano Photos

Mayon volcano, Legaspi, Philippines, on 3 Feb 2012. (Photo: ThomasH)

Mayon volcano mirrored in a flooded rice field (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Mayon is one of the most impressive and perfectly symmetrical stratovolcanoes in the world. View is from northwest. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Moonlight illuminating Mayon and the landscape on its lower slopes, with coconut groves. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

More photos

Significant volcanic eruptions: Mayon volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Mayon has had at least 65 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 63 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 4 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Mayon volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Mayon volcano since around 2000. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Mayon can be found on the news page of Mayon volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths	Damage
2024 May 30 - Jul 18	Historical obs./docs.	2
2023 Apr 27 ±2 d. - 2024 or later	Historical obs./docs.	2
2022 Jun 6 - Oct 7	Historical obs./docs.	0
2018 Jan 13 - 2019 Oct 12	Summit crater Historical obs./docs.	2
2018 Jan 13 (eruption 2018 Jan 13 - 2019 Oct 12)	Historical obs./docs.	2		moderate	Info
2018 Jan 13: Philippine authorities say almost 2,000 people are suffering from acute respiratory infection due to Mt. Mayon volcano's torrent of ash, lava, and volcanic rock particles. In a statement on Sunday, Ricardo Jalad, head of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said that the number of Albay residents hit by disease due to ashfall from Mt. Mayon has almost quadrupled, from 516 to 1,972. The agency also reported the ash, lava and pyroclastic materials spewed by the volcano over the past two weeks have damaged 189.4 million Philippines pesos ($3.72 million) worth of crops in the Albay province, including rice, corn, and abaca. (reference #12002) PHIVOLCS reported that during 16-17 January Mayon's seismic network recorded 143 lava collapse events associated with rockfalls along the front and margins of advancing lava and pyroclastic flows in the Miisi (S), Matanag (SE), and Buyuan (SE) drainages. These events generated ash plumes that drifted SW. During 17-20 January effusion of lava at the summit and collapse events continued. Two pyroclastic flows traveled around 3 km down the Miisi drainage. Rockfall events were generated by the collapsing lava front and margins of the advancing 3-km-long lava flow in the Miisi drainage, and from the summit into the Matanag, Buyuan, and Bonga (SE) drainages. Ash plumes continued to drift SW. Sulfur dioxide gas emissions were 1,478 tonnes/day on 18 January and 1,131 tonnes/day on 19 January. During 20-21 January there were 14 rockfall events and 10 pyroclastic flows recorded by the seismic network. During 21-22 January there were 64 rockfall events and one pyroclastic flow recorded. Strombolian activity generated lava fountains 500 and 200 m high at 1045 on 21 January and at 0225 on 22 January, respectively. Ash plumes rose 1.3 km high and drifted SW, causing ashfall in Oas and Guinobatan (12 km SW). Lava flowed more voluminously, adding to the advancing Miisi lava flow (over 3 km long) and feeding two new lava flows on the Bonga and upper Buyuan drainages. At 1243 on 22 January an eight-minute-long phreatomagmatic event generated a dense, 5-km-high ash plume that drifted W. Ashfall was reported in the municipalities of Guinobatan, Camalig (11 km SSW), Oas, Polangui (20 km WNW), and Iriga City (34 km NW). The event also generated pyroclastic flows that traveled as far as 4 km down multiple drainages including Miisi, Bonga, Buyuan, Basud, San Andres, Buang, Anoling. PHIVOLCS raised the Alert Level to 4 (on a 0-5 scale) and extend the Danger Zone to an 8-km radius. A minor event at 1725 produced a 500-m-high ash plume. Between 2137 on 22 January and 0525 on 23 January there were five episodes of intense and sporadic lava fountaining, each lasting 3-30 minutes. The lava fountains rose 500-700 m high, and generated ash plumes that rose 2.5-3 km above the crater. The events fed lava flows on the Miisi and Bonga drainages, sprayed near-vent lava spatter, and fed incandescent rockfalls around the summit area. The Buyuan lava flow was 200 m long. According to news articles posted on 23 January about 40,000 people have been evacuated, and airports in the cities of Legazpi City (13 km SSE) and Naga (66 km NW), and on the nearby island of Masbate (100 km S) were closed. (reference #2432) USD 3,564,000 in total damage (reference #1250) Cited references #1250 Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) and the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) (2001): EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database, Universite Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, link #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #12002 Anadolu Agency (2018): Philippines: Volcano gives 2,000 respiratory infection. Published 28 January 2018. Link Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2014 Aug 12 - Oct 19	Summit crater Historical obs./docs.	0
2013 May 7	Summit crater Historical obs./docs.	2
2013 May 7 (eruption 2013 May 7)	Historical obs./docs.	0	5		Info
2013 May 7: One of the Philippines' most active volcanoes rumbled to life Tuesday, spewing room-sized rocks toward nearly 30 surprised climbers, killing five and injuring others that had to be fetched with rescue helicopters and rope. The climbers and their Filipino guides had spent the night camping in two groups before setting out at daybreak for the crater of Mayon volcano when the sudden explosion of rocks, ash and plumes of smokes jolted the picturesque mountain, guide Kenneth Jesalva told ABS-CBN TV network by cellphone. He said rocks "as big as a living room" came raining down, killing and injuring members of his group, some of whom were in critical condition. Jesalva said he rushed back to the base camp at 3,000 feet to call for help. Among the dead were three Germans and their Filipino guide, said Albay provincial Gov. Joey Salceda. He said everyone on the mountain had been accounted for at midday, except for a foreigner who was presumed dead. Eight people were injured, and Salceda said the others were in the process of being brought down the mountain. Ash clouds have cleared over the volcano, which was quiet later in the morning. "The injured are all foreigners ... They cannot walk. If you can imagine, the boulders there are as big as cars. Some of them slid and rolled down. We will rappel the rescue team, and we will rappel them up again," he said from Legazpi, the provincial capital at the foothill of the mountain. (reference #10528) Cited references #10528 Associated Press (2013): 5 climbers killed after volcano spews rock and ash in the Philippines. Published May 07, 2013. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2009 Sep 15 - 2010 Jan 1 ?	Historical obs./docs.	2
2008 Aug 10	Historical obs./docs.	1
2006 Nov 30 (eruption 2006 Jul 13 - Oct 1)	Historical obs./docs.	1	1,266	light	Info
2006 Nov 30: Central vent eruption, Fatalities, Damage, Lava Volume: 3.8 ± 0.3 x 10⁷ m³. (reference #2432)2006 Nov 30. 1266 persons were dead or missing from post-eruptive lahars down the slopes of Mayon produced during a November 30 typhoon. (reference #9675) Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2006 Jul 13 - Oct 1	Historical obs./docs.	1
2006 Feb 21 - Feb 23	Historical obs./docs.	1
2005 Aug 17 or before	Historical obs./docs.	0
2004 Jun 3 - Sep 12 ?	Historical obs./docs.	1
?? 2003 Oct 8 - Oct 11 ?	Uncertain Eruption	?
2003 Mar 17 - May 14	Historical obs./docs.	2
2002 Oct 11	Historical obs./docs.	1
2001 Jan 8 - Aug 8	Historical obs./docs.	3
2000 Jul 16 - Aug 31	Historical obs./docs.	2
1999 Jun 22 - 2000 Mar 19	Historical obs./docs.	3

Remark:

Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution

Mayon Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Mayon volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Mayon occurred in 2024.

+How often does Mayon volcano erupt?

Since 1616 AD, Mayon volcano has had at least 63 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 6.5 years.

+How active is Mayon volcano at present?

Mayon volcano is relatively active: Since 1900, it has had 30 eruptions, and been active during 30 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Mayon has been in eruption one in 4.2 years on average. The last eruption was in 2024 and ended 10 months ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Mayon volcano?

The largest eruption of Mayon volcano in historic times occurred in 1897. It ranks as a sub-plinian eruption with a magnitude 4 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Mayon Volcano Maps

Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).