Alert level four (4) has just been raised over Mayon volcano in Albay.
This comes after the volcano released an ashfall as high as 10 kilometers from its crater at noon today.
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) volcanologist Paul Alanis describes the event as a "volcanian eruption."
Thick pyroclastic flows that looked like "tentacles of an octopus" are being observed at Mayon.
Lava covered the summit and rolled down toward the western side of the volcano.
Alert level 4 means "a hazardous eruption is possible within days."
Alanis said, "oras lang o mga araw ang binibilang bago ang eruption (we are just hours or days away from an eruption)."
The last time this activity happened was in years 2000 and 2001.
PHIVOLCS is now considering if it will extend the danger zone around the volcano from 6 kilometers to 8 kilometers.
About 16,000 families or 73,000 individuals live within the 8-kilometer extended danger zone.
