Newsletter: Satellite data show crop areas affected by ashfall from Mayon

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]

The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) produced a crop exposure map showing ash-affected Physical Rice Areas (orange) and Other Crop Areas (yellow) following the reported pyroclastic density current along the Mi-isi gully of Mayon Volcano on 2 May 2026. At least 1,039 hectares (10.39 sqkm) of rice and 191 hectares (1.91 sqkm) of other crops were potentially affected because they are found within the Estimated Ash Deposit Extent (delineated in red, based on a previous analysis by PhilSA published on 5 May). The combined area of potentially affected crops is around the size of Mandaluyong City.

Physical Rice Areas, areas typically planted with rice during cropping season, were sourced from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice). Other Crop Areas were classified based on changing vegetation patterns in Sentinel-2 imagery from January to December 2024. Additionally, there are at least 158 km of roads within the Estimated Ash Deposit Extent (in red), based on a dataset of road networks.

The amount of information derived from satellite data is oftentimes constrained by cloud cover. Areas covered by clouds during the image capture (grey hatched) contain no observable ground data and may or may not have ash deposits. The estimated Ash Deposit Extent is consistent with projections from atmospheric trajectory modeling and reports from the ground. The map is still subject to ground validation.

PhilSA’s support through the analysis of satellite data provides wide-area coverage that assists the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in monitoring the situation and prioritizing areas for response. By making space data accessible to stakeholders, PhilSA enables informed decision-making and strengthens disaster response.

PhilSA will continue monitoring satellite data as the situation requires. Please follow local and national agencies for the latest advisories.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates: https://linktr.ee/philspaceagency

[END OF PRESS RELEASE]