[NASA] Eruption at Mayon

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3. Eruption at Mayon

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February 26, 2026

At any given moment, about

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on Earth are actively erupting. Often among them is 

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—the most active volcano in the Philippines. The nearly symmetrical stratovolcano, on Luzon Island near the Albay and Lagonoy gulfs, rises more than 2,400 meters (8,000 feet) above sea level.

Historical

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indicate Mayon has erupted 65 times in the past 5,000 years, with the latest episode beginning in January 2026. The

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 (PHIVOLCS) first reported increased rockfalls near the volcano’s summit and inflation of the mountain’s upper slopes. 

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, the 

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 was increased to three on a five-level scale after lava began flowing from the crater and hot clouds of ash and debris called 

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(also called

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) moved down one side of the mountain.

The volcano was still puffing and lava flowing on February 26, when the 

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 (Operational Land Imager) on

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acquired this rare, relatively clear image. The natural-color scene is overlaid with infrared observations to highlight the lava’s heat signature. On that day, PHIVOLCS reported volcanic earthquakes, rockfalls, and pyroclastic flows. The longest pyroclastic flow had traveled about 4 kilometers (3 miles) through the Mi-isi Gully on the southeast flank. 

The level-three alert, which remained in place in March, prompted evacuations within a 6-kilometer (4-mile) radius of the crater, displacing hundreds of families from communities including Tabaco City, Malilpot, and Camalig. Past pyroclastic flows have proven extremely destructive, leading to more than 1,000 deaths in 

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, at least 400 deaths in 1897, and 

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 in 1993. More than 

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 were evacuated during an eruption in 1984.

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during the current eruption have averaged 2,466 tons per day, with a peak of 6,569 metric tons measured on February 4, 2026. That is the highest SO₂ emission level for one day in 15 years, the

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in early February. That was later exceeded on March 6, when SO₂ emissions reached as high as

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. 

Multiple NASA satellites have also monitored the volcano’s sulfur dioxide emissions, showing sizable plumes of the gas drifting southwest on

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and

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. The Philippine volcanology institute reported a peak in other activity on

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, with 469 rockfalls, 12 major pyroclastic flows, and ashfall in the municipalities of Camalig and Guinobatan.

NASA Earth Observatory image by Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the 

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. Story by Adam Voiland.

Downloads

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February 26, 2026

JPEG (3.86 MB)

References & Resources

• Chan, H. & Konstantinou, K. (2020)
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  Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 401, 106976.
• Global Volcanism Program (2026)
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  . Accessed March 12, 2026.  
• GMA News Online (2026, January 6)
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  . Accessed March 12, 2026.
• NASA Earthdata (2023, January 25)
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  . Accessed March 12, 2026.
• NASA Earth Observatory (2009, December 15)
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  . Accessed March 12, 2026.                            
• PHIVOLCS (2026, March 12)
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  . Accessed March 12, 2026.
• PHIVOLCS (2026, February 10)
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  . Accessed March 12, 2026.
• Ruth, D.C.S. & Costa, F. (2021)
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  . Bulletin of Volcanology, 83(62).

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