Albay suspends classes after Mayon’s explosive eruption

LEGAZPI CITY — Following Mayon Volcano’s explosive eruption, classes at all levels in public and private schools across Albay were suspended Friday afternoon.

Gov. Noel Rosal announced the suspension in a Facebook post, saying classes would remain suspended until further notice.

“Classes in all levels in Albay, private/public, suspended this afternoon until lifted,” Rosal said.

READ: BREAKING: Mayon Volcano erupts, sends ash plume 3,000 meters high

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Mayon erupted at 11:53:40 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, producing a moderately explosive event that sent a grayish ash plume 3,000 meters above the summit.

The eruption lasted nearly six minutes, ending at 11:59:36 a.m., with the ash plume drifting west-southwest.

Phivolcs subsequently raised Mayon’s alert status from Level 2 to Level 3, indicating a new phase of magmatic eruption and an increased possibility of lava flows and hazardous pyroclastic density currents.

The agency recommended evacuating residents within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone./coa