Volcano spews lava fountains, 40,000 people flee
PHILIPPINES: The Philippines’ most active volcano continued to spew fountains of red-hot lava and massive ash plumes yesterday in a dazzling but increasingly dangerous eruption that has sent 40,000 villagers to shelter in evacuation centres.
Lava fountains gushed 700 metres above Mt Mayon’s crater and ash plumes rose up to three kilometres at night and before daybreak, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. An explosive eruption on Monday was the most powerful since the volcano started acting up more than a week ago.
Authorities warned that a violent eruption may occur in hours or days, characterised by more rumblings and pyroclastic flows – superheated gas and volcanic debris that race down the slopes at high speeds.
After Monday’s huge explosion, officials raised Mayon’s alert level to four on a scale of five, and the danger zone was expanded to 8km from the crater, requiring thousands more residents to be evacuated, including at least 12,000 who left their homes and then returned during gentler eruptions.
Authorities struggled to prevent villagers from sneaking back to check on their homes and farms and to watch a cockfight in an arena in Albay’s Santo Domingo town despite the risks and police patrols and checkpoints, said Cedric Daep, a provincial disasterresponse official.
In a sign of desperation, Daep told a news conference that he had recommended that electricity and water supplies be cut in communities within the no-go zones to discourage residents from returning.
‘‘If pyroclastic flows hit people, there is no chance for life,’' Daep said. ‘‘Let us not violate the natural law. Avoid the prohibited zone, because if you violate, the punishment is death penalty.’'
The daytime eruptions have plunged nearby villages in darkness and sent lava, rocks and debris cascading down Mayon’s slopes.