A three-kilometer ash plume prompted evacuations within a six-kilometer radius as officials raised the volcano’s alert level to 3.

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Philippine authorities ordered the evacuation of communities within six kilometers of Mayon volcano on Friday after a moderately explosive eruption sent an ash plume 3,000 meters above its crater, prompting warnings of further volcanic activity and possible lava flows.

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The eruption began at 11:53 a.m. local time (03:53 GMT) and lasted nearly six minutes, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). It generated a dense ash cloud that rose rapidly to 3,000 meters above the summit.

Phivolcs raised Mayon’s alert level to 3 on a five-point scale, warning that the volcano had entered a new phase of magmatic eruption and faced an increased risk of a hazardous event. The agency said lava flows could descend the volcano’s slopes in the coming days or weeks.

Following the eruption, the Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council ordered local authorities to evacuate residents living within a six-kilometer radius of the crater on Friday afternoon.

The Philippines’ Mayon Volcano has erupted, sending ash plumes 3,000 metres above its summit.

Authorities have raised the alert to Level 3, signalling that the volcano has entered a new phase of eruption. pic.twitter.com/45eGH25Hf0

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) October 30, 2026

The directive, signed and shared by the provincial governor, also suspended classes at all educational levels in public and private schools across the affected area until further notice.

Police and military personnel will enforce security measures to prevent access to the danger zone, where all activities have been prohibited.

Authorities also warned residents to remain alert for possible mudflows and avalanches of volcanic material along rivers and streams flowing down the volcano. Phivolcs advised pilots to avoid flying over the summit.

The agency forecast ashfall in Daraga, Camalig and Guinobatan, as well as other communities in Albay province, in the southeastern part of Luzon island.

Mayon is one of the Philippines’ most active volcanoes. The country lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region marked by intense seismic and volcanic activity.

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© Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA/AP

© Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA/AP

© Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA/AP

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The EU welcomes Cambodia’s decision to join the Multi-party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA) for WTO members, contributing to efforts to uphold a rules-based multilateral trading system. 

With Cambodia’s participation, the MPIA now covers 62 World Trade Organization (WTO) members and 60.4% of world trade.  

The MPIA brings together participants from all continents and at different levels of development, united by a shared commitment to upholding the rules-based trading system. 

The MPIA preserves the right to appeal in trade disputes among participating WTO members, at a time when the WTO’s Appellate Body remains non-functioning. It helps ensure that disputes can continue to be resolved in an orderly and binding manner, avoiding appeals 'into the void'. 

“I welcome Cambodia to the MPIA. The arrangement plays an important role in upholding the rules-based trading system. Each new participant helps reinforce the predictability, stability and credibility of global trade rules. I encourage other WTO members to join the MPIA,” said EU Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič. 

Background 

The MPIA was established in 2020 and has proven its effectiveness in many WTO disputes.  

Under the MPIA, appeals are heard by arbitrators randomly selected from a pool of 10 standing appeal arbitrators set up by the participating WTO members. These arbitrators are persons of recognised authority, with demonstrated expertise in law, international trade and WTO agreements.  

The MPIA is open to all WTO members as a practical tool for appeal arbitration, pending the restoration of a reformed and fully functioning WTO dispute settlement system. 

As of 1 June 2025, the MPIA has an updated pool of appeal arbitrators to ensure that appeals continue to be heard by independent arbitrators of the highest calibre. 

At the WTO Ministerial Conference that took place earlier this year, MPIA ministers stressed the importance of the MPIA for the security and predictability of the multilateral trading system.  

The current MPIA participants are Australia, Barbados, Benin, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, China, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the European Union (and its Member States), Guatemala, Hong Kong (China), Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Macao (China), Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Uruguay and Vietnam.

More information

MC14: Supporting the rules-based multilateral trading system: the role of the MPIA