MANILA: The Philippines’ most active volcano on Tuesday spewed big plumes of ash and fountains of lava for the second day of increased activity, forcing nearly 40,000 locals to flee their homes, officials said.
Lava fountains reaching up to 700 metres high were monitored overnight at Mayon Volcano in Albay province, 330 kilometres south of Manila, while the ash plumes reached up to 3 kilometres above the crater.
The sporadic lava fountaining lasted between three minutes and 30 minutes, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.
Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara said the number of displaced residents rose to about 40,000 overnight as people were afraid of the rumbling sounds from Mayon.
“Even residents who live far away from the danger zones have fled their homes because they were afraid,” he told Manila radio station DZMM. “We have to accommodate all of them.”
On Monday, Phivolcs raised the alert level at Mayon to 4, which means that “hazardous eruption is possible within days,” after it loudly ejected a huge ash cloud and more lava.
Heavy ash fall darkened some towns at the foot of Mayon, and covered roofs, vehicles, and trees. Road visibility was also affected, while dozens of domestic flights passing through the area were cancelled.
Bichara also suspended school classes in all levels in the province.
The 2,463-metre volcano has erupted about 50 times since 1616. The last deadly eruption was in May 2013. Five hikers were killed and seven people injured in that incident.
Mayon’s most violent eruption was in 1814 when more than 1,200 people were killed and a town was buried in volcanic mud. An eruption in 1993 killed 79 people.
