Mayon Is Spewing Lava and Tourists Are Loving It — Hotels in Albay Are Fully Booked for the 'Fireworks' Show
Most people run away from erupting volcanoes. Filipinos? They book hotel rooms. Mayon Volcano in Albay has been in a state of effusive eruption for eight weeks now, spewing fresh lava, fiery rock flows, and elevated sulfur dioxide emissions — and instead of scaring people off, it's turning the province into one of the country's hottest tourist destinations, literally.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), lava flows have been observed along the Basud, Bonga, and Misi gullies, with pyroclastic density currents still ongoing. Alert Level 3 remains in effect, and the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone around the 2,463-meter-high volcano is strictly enforced. Volcanologist Paul Karson Alanis said Mayon has generated 23 million cubic meters of volcanic materials since the eruption began.
But outside that danger zone, it's business as usual — and then some. The Department of Tourism's Bicol office reports that tourist arrivals have surged, with hotels across Albay at full occupancy. DOT Bicol Regional Director Herbie Aguas compared the nighttime lava show to watching fireworks: 'Watching the volcano erupt at night is just like watching a fireworks display, and that makes for a very memorable experience.'
Tourists aren't just staying in Albay either. Many are extending their trips to nearby provinces like Sorsogon for whale shark encounters and volcanic hot springs, Masbate, and the Camarines provinces for manta ray sightings and white-sand beaches. The eruption has essentially become a regional tourism booster for the entire Bicol region.
Emergency workers continue to warn about potential pyroclastic events, rockfall, and ashfall — a lava collapse was recorded at around 3:23 AM on February 24. So while the views are spectacular, authorities are reminding everyone: enjoy the show, pero stay out of the danger zone.
Source: Gulf News
