12,000 flee as lava oozes from volcano
> Experts warn of hazardous explosion from Mayon within days
CAMALIG: Thousands fled from their homes as lava oozed out of a rumbling Philippine volcano yesterday in what volcanologists described as a “quiet eruption”, warning it could lead to a hazardous explosion within days.
Lava was slowly flowing out of the Mayon volcano’s crater along with a spectacular 1,000m ash plume rising into the sky, the nation’s volcanology institute said.
More than 12,000 people have been ordered to leave a 7km danger zone around the crater, as officials warned them of potentially destructive mudflows and toxic clouds.
“Technically, the volcano is erupting but the eruption is fairly quiet. It may escalate into a hazardous eruption,” Paul Alanis, science research specialist at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), said.
A hazardous or explosive eruption means a lava fountain or a spray of hot rocks and gases that could move as fast as 60kph, Alanis added.
Local disaster officials also warned of volcanic mudflows known as lahars.
“Because of continuous rains in past weeks, debris deposited (on) the slopes of Mayon could lead to lahar flows. If rain does not stop it could be hazardous,” Claudio Yucot, head of the region’s office of civil defence, said.
Mayon, a near-perfect cone that draws thousands of tourists, even during minor eruptions, rises 2,460m above a largely agricultural region some 330km southwest of Manila.
It is considered the nation’s most active volcano.
Steam-driven eruptions and rockfalls began at the weekend, and the crater started glowing on Sunday evening, in what Phivolcs said was a sign of the growth of a new lava dome.
Lava last flowed out of Mayon in 2014 when 63,000 people fled from their homes.
“We think the lava now is more fluid than in 2014. This means the flow can reach further down (the slopes) at a faster rate,” Phivolcs head Renato Solidum said.
“We see similarity with eruptions where the first phase of the activity started with lava flow and culminated in an explosive or hazardous part. That’s what we are trying to monitor and help people avoid.”
The Philippines is part of a “Ring of Fire” of islands in the Pacific formed by volcanic activity, and has to contend with 22 active volcanoes. – AFP