The Philippines' most active volcano, Mount Mayon, erupted dramatically, sending a massive ash plume nearly 3,000 metres above its crater and prompting authorities to raise the alert level to Level 3. Footage showed a thick column of dark ash rising high into the sky before drifting towards nearby communities. The eruption, described by PHIVOLCS as "moderately explosive," began at 11:53 AM local time and lasted for approximately six minutes.