More than 12,000 people have been ordered to leave a seven-kilometre danger zone around the crater, as officials warned them of potentially destructive mudflows and toxic clouds (Illustrative image. Source: AFP/VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The Philippines on January16 had to close more schools as Mayon volcano continued to spew lava, ash anddust into neighbouring towns.
The PhilippineInstitute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded nine episodes oftremor, four of which accompanied lava fountains, and 75 lava collapse events,reiterating its warning that a hazardous eruption could happen any time.
The Phivolcsis maintaining alert level 3 in effect over the volcano and warned thathazardous eruption is possible within weeks or even days.
The Albayprovincial government has ordered to continue closing schools in more than 2kmradius around the volcano area and advised travellers to avoid ashfall-hitvillages amid poor road visibility.
Thousands of Filipinos on January 15 fled from their homes as lavaoozed out of Mayon volcano in central Albay province.
More than 12,000 people have been ordered to leave aseven-kilometre danger zone around the crater, as officials warned them ofpotentially destructive mudflows and toxic clouds.
Lava last flowed out of Mayon in 2014 when 63,000 people fled fromtheir homes. The Phivolcs said the lava is more fluid than in 2014, meaning theflow can reach further down at a faster rate.
The first phase of the activity started with lava flow andculminated in an explosive or hazardous part, Phivolcs said. The agency istrying to monitor the volcano’s activities to promptly issue warnings forpeople.
The Mayon, 2,460 metres in height and 20 kilometres in width, is one of the Philippines’sactive volcanoes famous for its beauty and near-perfect symmetry.
It has erupted 51 times during the past 400 years. The most destructiveeruption was reported in 1814 which killed about 1,200 people and buried threetowns under mud and rock.-VNA
