Thousands evacuated in Philippines as Mount Mayon volcano spews lava and sulfuric gas

() — The Philippines’ most active volcano began spewing lava and sulfuric gas on Sunday, prompting the evacuation of nearly 13,000 residents in the southeast of the country’s main island, authorities said.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recommended that all people within a 6 kilometer radius or “danger zone” of the Mount Mayon volcano be evacuated due to the danger of rockfalls, landslides and ballistic fragments.

Since the volcano alert level was raised to 3 (with a maximum level of 5) last Thursday, 88% of residents living in the danger zone have been evacuated and efforts are underway to relocate the rest. said the Philippine Provincial Information Office.

Located on the island of Luzon, about 330 kilometers southeast of Manila, Mayon is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

The images showed families in Albay province carrying children and their belongings, boarding trucks and military vehicles, and taking refuge in evacuation centers at local schools.

Phivolcs warned that a “dangerous eruption is possible within weeks or even days” after detecting a “relatively high level of agitation” at the volcano.

In the last 24 hours, the Mayon Volcano Network recorded 21 weak volcanic earthquakes and 260 rockfalls, as well as lava flow activity from the crater, according to Phivolcs.

The agency also detected three pyroclastic-density currents — fast-moving flows of hot ash, hot gases, and debris rushing down volcanic slopes — and warned of a possible ashfall on the south side of the volcano.

Albay province was placed in a state of calamity on Friday, allowing the government to release response funds to support affected residents, reported Philippines, a affiliate.

Talking with PhilippinesPhivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol said they were closely monitoring the situation at the volcano and could raise the alert level to 4 if there is an increase in volcanic earthquakes and volcano building inflation.

Bacolcol said that there was an effusive eruption this Sunday night and lava flows were observed that reached 500 meters from the top of the volcano.

“Lava flows are slow-moving and effusive eruptions are generally less violent and produce less volcanic ash and gas than explosive eruptions,” Bacolcol told Philippines.

Dramatic photographs taken at night showed glowing rivers of molten lava erupting from the volcano’s top and spilling over its sides.

Philippine authorities also evacuated 10,000 farm animals, including cows, goats and pigs threatened by the volcanic eruption, to feeding camps and shelters outside the danger zone.

Mount Mayon erupted violently last time in 2018displacing thousands of villagers and covering nearby towns with thick layers of ash