Philippine volcano explodes; villagers flee back to shelters
MANILA, PHILIPPINES >> The Philippines’ most active volcano ejected a huge column of lava fragments, ash and smoke in a thunderous explosion Monday, sending thousands of villagers back to evacuation centers and prompting a warning that a violent eruption may be imminent.
The midday explosion sent superheated lava, molten rocks and steam between 2 to 3 miles into the blue sky, and then some cascaded down Mount Mayon’s slopes and shrouded nearby villages in darkness, Renato Solidum of the Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology and other officials said.
From the crater, the deadly debris billowed about 1.8 miles down on the southern plank of Mayon toward a no-entry danger
zone. There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries, officials said.
The explosion was the most powerful since the volcano started acting up more than a week ago.
Due to its relatively gentle eruption last week, thousands left emergency shelters and returned to their communities in Legazpi city outside the danger zone. But Monday’s blast sent nearly 12,000 fleeing back to evacuation centers, raising the number of people in those shelters to more than 30,000, Yucot said.
Authorities on Monday raised the alert level to four on a scale of five, which means an explosive eruption is possible within hours or days. A danger zone around Mayon was expanded to 5 miles from the crater, which means thousands of villagers will have to leave their homes, officials said.