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Philippines volcano spews ash, hot rocks
Source: Agencies |
December 17, 2009, Thursday
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THE Philippines' most active volcano spewed ash as high as 500 meters and burning rocks and mud a kilometer down its slopes yesterday, while vulcanologists expect a major eruption soon.
More than 20,000 people have been evacuated from around the Mayon volcano's danger zones, Defence Secretary Norberto Gonzales said after meetings with local officials in Albay province.
It spewed burning mud and rocks for a third day.
Nearly 80 high frequency quakes were recorded around the volcano in the last 24 hours. Officials raised Mayon's alert to level 3 on Monday, meaning sudden hazardous explosions were likely.
"We're keeping the alert level but we're observing increased activity in the volcano," said Renato Solidum, head of the Philippine Institute for Volcanolgy and Seismology.
Vulcanologists recorded at least five minor explosions yesterday from Mayon, famed for its near-perfect cone shape in a coconut-growing region of the central Philippines.
Solidum said lava had rolled down about 1km from the summit while burning rocks have started detaching from the crater summit, generating ashfalls in two towns near Mayon's slope.
Solidum advised people in three cities and five towns near the base of the volcano to cover their noses and mouth with masks or wet cloths to prevent inhaling ash.
"The danger is when residents inhale the fine ash and this weakens their lungs, especially those with lung ailments," he said.
Gonzales, who also heads the government's disaster agency, said about 50,000 masks would be distributed to residents and food and water stations were being set up for displaced families.
Mayon is the most active of 22 volcanoes in the Philippines, having erupted more than 50 times in the last four centuries. The most destructive eruption came in February 1841 when lava flows buried a town and killed 1,200 people.
The last time Mayon erupted was in 2006.
More than 20,000 people have been evacuated from around the Mayon volcano's danger zones, Defence Secretary Norberto Gonzales said after meetings with local officials in Albay province.
It spewed burning mud and rocks for a third day.
Nearly 80 high frequency quakes were recorded around the volcano in the last 24 hours. Officials raised Mayon's alert to level 3 on Monday, meaning sudden hazardous explosions were likely.
"We're keeping the alert level but we're observing increased activity in the volcano," said Renato Solidum, head of the Philippine Institute for Volcanolgy and Seismology.
Vulcanologists recorded at least five minor explosions yesterday from Mayon, famed for its near-perfect cone shape in a coconut-growing region of the central Philippines.
Solidum said lava had rolled down about 1km from the summit while burning rocks have started detaching from the crater summit, generating ashfalls in two towns near Mayon's slope.
Solidum advised people in three cities and five towns near the base of the volcano to cover their noses and mouth with masks or wet cloths to prevent inhaling ash.
"The danger is when residents inhale the fine ash and this weakens their lungs, especially those with lung ailments," he said.
Gonzales, who also heads the government's disaster agency, said about 50,000 masks would be distributed to residents and food and water stations were being set up for displaced families.
Mayon is the most active of 22 volcanoes in the Philippines, having erupted more than 50 times in the last four centuries. The most destructive eruption came in February 1841 when lava flows buried a town and killed 1,200 people.
The last time Mayon erupted was in 2006.
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