The Philippines' most active volcano, Mayon, began erupting on Sunday, June 11, 2023, sending lava flowing down its slopes and prompting the evacuation of over 13,000 residents from nearby villages. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, warning that the gentle eruption could escalate into a more violent and dangerous explosion.

While thousands have heeded the mandatory evacuation orders for communities within a 3.7-mile radius of the crater, a number of residents remain within the permanent danger zone. These individuals, primarily from impoverished farming communities, often have nowhere else to go.

Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, stated that the high-risk zone may be expanded if the eruption intensifies. He urged those within any expanded danger zone to be ready to move to emergency shelters. Currently, the eruption is characterized as effusive, with authorities monitoring the situation daily.

The flowing lava, visible from a distance on Sunday night, drew onlookers from the nearby city of Legazpi. However, for those living closest to the volcano, the eruption brought fear and hardship. Evacuees in overcrowded shelters expressed anxiety and recounted the difficulties of leaving their homes and livelihoods behind. One evacuee shared her anguish at having to hold her husband's funeral wake in a shelter due to the eruption.

Mayon Volcano is seen from Guinobatan, northeastern Philippines, on June 12, 2023 (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

While the volcano appeared calmer on Monday under the bright sun, officials confirmed that lava continued to flow. The volcano's alert level remains at three out of five, signifying high unrest and the potential for a hazardous eruption in the coming days or weeks. This level could be raised if the eruption becomes more dangerous.

Mayon's eruption follows other recent volcanic activity, including the eruption of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano. The Philippines sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," making it prone to both volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Mayon last erupted violently in 2018, and a devastating eruption in 1814 reportedly claimed over 1,000 lives. The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, another Philippine volcano, was one of the largest of the 20th century.