Mayon Volcano, the country's most active volcano, has erupted at least 50 times in the last four centuries. But the most violent one happened 207 years ago--on Feb. 1, 1814.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) commemorated the year that Mayon Volcano had its most destructive eruption, which left 1,200 people dead.

Several accounts "written mostly by parish priests along with official letters of government officers" described the devastating eruption impacts to the flourishing towns surrounding the volcano.

A series of earthquakes were felt starting January 31, 1814 with increasing occurrence leading up to the eruption on February 1, 1814.

The 1814 eruption of Mayon Volcano is classified by Phivolcs as "Plinian," which is characterized by violent and sustained ejection of volcanic tephra, mostly volcanic ash and lapilli.

In the aftermath of the eruption, “a perceivable lowering of the main crater and an opening on its southern rim were also noted,” Phivolcs said.

The towns of Camalig, Cagsaua, Budiao, and parts of Legazpi City were severely damaged due to this event.

"The damage was so severe that the old town capital relocated from Cagsawa to Daraga, which was then just a small village," Phivolcs pointed out.

"The towns of Bubulusan, Budiao, and Cagsawa, which are traversed by streams radiating from the volcano center, were also completely buried by lahar deposits. Volcanic deposits were described to reach up to 10-12 meters along the affected slopes. The impacts of the event also resulted in the death of around 1,200 people," it added.

Exactly 179 years later, Mayon Volcano had another eruption on February 2, 1993.

Phivolcs said this event killed 77 people.

"Small explosions confined in the summit area occurred until March 14 (1993). The eruptive phase is characterized by effusion of lava flow followed by generation of pyroclastic flows between March 15 and April 1 (1993)," it said.

Phivolcs said it continues to conduct research to analyze and map the preserved 1814 Mayon Volcano deposits and other volcanic deposits.

Currently, Mayon Volcano remains under alert level 1, which means that it is at an abnormal condition but "no magmatic eruption is imminent."