Mayon Volcano, considered the Philippines’ most active volcano, has erupted, prompting the evacuation of thousands of nearby residents.
Philippine authorities said the 2,463-meter (8,081-foot) volcano in Albay province on Luzon began spewing ash, smoke and lava starting on May 2 (local time), affecting 52 nearby villages, Yonhap News Agency reported on May 3.
Authorities raised the volcano alert to Level 3 on a five-step scale and ordered the emergency evacuation of about 1,500 households. Evacuees were staying in temporary shelters while waiting for activity to subside. Access near the volcano was restricted under the Level 3 alert, and flights in surrounding airspace were also limited.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said intensifying activity sent lava flowing for several kilometers, and rockfalls and pyroclastic density currents were observed within the 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) permanent danger zone. Pyroclastic density currents are fast-moving flows of superheated ash, rocks and toxic gases.
The institute said 32 volcanic earthquakes were detected over the past 24 hours and warned that additional hazards, including moderate explosions, could not be ruled out in the coming days. It urged the public not to enter the danger zone.
The Philippines sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are frequent. Mayon is regarded as the country’s most active volcano. A major eruption in 1814 killed about 1,200 people, and another in 1993 left 79 dead.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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