Manila: The Mayon volcano in central the Philippines erupted again this weekend, sending massive plumes of smoke and ash into the sky, causing panic and forcing the evacuation of many people. According to Thai News Agency, on Saturday evening local time (May 2), the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) detected pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), locally known as "Uson," on the southwest slopes of Mount Mayon, extending for approximately 4 kilometers. This resulted in a thick ash plume covering more than 52 villages in Albay province on Luzon Island. Smoke and ash rose to heights of up to 3,000 meters above sea level. Thick ash was also reported in the towns of Camalik and Guinobatan, drastically reducing visibility and impacting transportation. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) maintains the volcano's alert level at level 3, meaning it is in a state of magmatic unrest and there is a possibility of a violent and dangerous eruption in the near future . Local authorities have strictly prohibited access within a 6-kilometer radius of the volcano due to the risk of rockfalls, lava flows, and toxic gases. Currently, more than 4,000 residents from approximately 1,500 families have been forced to leave their homes and go to temporary shelters. Officials have distributed hundreds of thousands of face masks and warned people to wear masks and stay indoors as volcanic ash directly affects the respiratory system. Meanwhile, some flights in nearby areas have been canceled today due to the risk of atmospheric volcanic ash. Mount Mayon is an active volcano, having erupted more than 50 times in the past 400 years, making it one of the most powerful volcanoes in the Philippines. It continues to erupt and release lava periodically.