Hundreds of families living around Mount Mayon in central Albay province have been evacuated to safer areas after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised a "hazardous eruption" alarm. (Photo: AFP)Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine authorities on June11 gave “health concern” warnings due to ash cloud and toxic gases spewing from Mayonvolcano.
Earlier, more than12,800 people living around Mayon, one of the most active volcano in thecountry as it began to erupt, have been evacuated
The Philippines’ Institute of Volcanology andSeismology said it had recorded at least one volcanic earthquakein the past 24 hours. Volcanologists said rocks were raining down on areasup to two kilometres away and sulphur dioxide emissions had tripled on June 10.
Speaking at a press conference on June 11, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said authorities raised the natural disaster from Level 2 to Level 3 on June 9 with warning of possible respiratory illnesses from inhalingfumes. A possible major eruption could happen within days or weeks.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos has requestedpeople to follow the recommendations and evacuation instructions of localgovernments.
Mayon, about 330km southeast of the capital Manila, has a unique cone shape and is a popular tourist destination. It has erupted more than 50 times in the past 400 years. Five years ago,the volcano displaced tens of thousands of people after spewing millions oftonnes of ash, rocks and lava.
The Philippines is located in the so-calledPacific “Ring of Fire,” a region prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Thecountry’s most powerful eruption in recent decades was Mount Pinatubo, whichkilled more than 800 people in 1991./.
