Over 700 families evacuate in Albay after Mayon Volcano eruption

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More than 700 families were evacuated in some areas in Albay after Mayon Volcano erupted Friday, according to the Albay Provincial Information Office.

As of 5 p.m. Friday, a total of 746 families or 2,041 individuals were evacuated, the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) reported.

Among the areas where residents were evacuated are Tabaco City, Camalig, and Barangay Baligang in Ligao City.

In Tabaco, 531 families were evacuated, while 205 families did so in Camalig, and 10 in Ligao.

The local government units (LGUs) of Malilipot, Legazpi City, Sto. Domingo, Daraga and Guinobatan meanwhile are monitoring the situation.

The Provincial Disaster Operation Center (PDOC) of APSEMO is on red alert to ensure continuous and proper coordination with affected LGUs and response clusters.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Health Office distributed 22,000 surgical masks to health facilities in some areas to be given out to residents for protection against ashfall effects.

The public is advised to follow authorities' guidelines and avoid entering the 6-km Permanent Danger Zone.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Friday reported a moderately explosive eruption of Mayon Volcano in Albay, prompting the raising of Alert Level 3.

PHIVOLCS said the eruption started at 11:53 a.m. and lasted six minutes.

The eruption initially generated a grayish plume that rose approximately 3,000 meters above the crater and drifted west-southwest.

In a separate Facebook post, PHIVOLCS announced that Alert Level 3 has been raised over Mayon Volcano, which means increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption.

On Saturday morning, Mayon Volcano spewed ash from its summit crater, according to PHIVOLCS.

The volcano was captured on camera spewing ash at 5:17 a.m.

"Alert Level 3 prevails over Mayon and entry into the 6-km Permanent Danger Zone should be prohibited," PHIVOLCS said Saturday. —KG, GMA News