Since Mt. Mayon first started showing signs of a looming eruption with ashfall on Jan. 14, people have been asking one question: Would Mayon retain its almost-perfect cone shape after an all-out eruption?
When the volcano exploded with ash and lava yesterday night, news correspondents and residents of the Bicol region had their cameras ready to see if they’d get an answer. They got close, but not close enough.
Last night’s episode was just a sign that a more hazardous eruption is imminent, according to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, so it didn’t really answered out question. But it did get us an astounding collection of videos and photos depicting the awe-inspiring image of a sleeping giant come alive.
From the night of Jan. 22, we have videos of the mountain bursting with and then weeping bright orange lava.
In the morning after, we have photos of clouds of ash and smoke painting a clear blue sky. Taken from ground level, this pillar of ash became a picturesque backdrop suggesting impending doom to sceneries of everyday life in the foreground.
What has social media captured at the moment, however, is a photo by FEU alumnus and International Photography Awards’ Photographer of the Year for 2017 Ezra Acayan.
Acayan’s photo features two horses laying on the grass as they watch the mountain bursting with fiery light in the distance. Swipe right to see that the photographer didn’t digitally manipulate the shot.
Beauty in the midst of chaos indeed.
Read more:
What happens to the environment when a volcano erupts?
Who is Magayon and why is she on Mt. Mayon?
Just how bad is the Mt. Pulag forest fire?
