Mayon Volcano Puts Residents On Alert In The Philippines
Komfie Manalo - All Headline News Foreign Correspondent Legazpi City, Philippines (AHN) - The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Monday said the Mayon volcano in Lagazpi City, Albay in the Philippines may erupt at any time. Experts say the Mayon volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines, and was recently rocked by six successive volcanic blasts, followed by a fountain of lava from its crater. By mid-morning the peak was covered in a dark cloud of volcanic material several kilometers high. Glen Rabonza, administrator of the Office of the Civil Defense said around 13,000 have been evacuated from the area around Mayon and soldiers were under orders to work throughout the night to assist in the evacuation efforts. He said, "We will not stop until we clear the area. That's the order. We expect to finish the evacuation late tonight or early tomorrow (Tuesday)." Earlier, the Institute placed the volcano under alert level 4 but Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr., said the number of evacuees could balloon to over 70,000 if experts raise the alert level to 5. President Arroyo has ordered the release of $4.8 million for evacuation and relief efforts. The Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office believe that at least 74,069 people or 13,870 families from 40 villages in three cities and five municipalities faced evacuation. Rabonza said the military's Tas |
