Philippines Mayon volcano eruption: Five climbers killed by 'room-sized' falling rocks Popular tourist destination explosively erupted yesterday Victims were part of mountain expedition on Mayon, an active volcano A further eight people were injured when large rocks rained down One of the Philippines' most active volcanoes rumbled to life yesterday which killed five and injured many others who had to be saved by helicopters and mountain rescue. The climbers and their Filipino guides had spent the night camping in two groups before setting out at daybreak for the crater of Mayon volcano when the sudden explosion of rocks, ash and plumes of smoke rocked the picturesque mountain, guide Kenneth Jesalva told ABS-CBN TV network by cellphone. He said rocks 'as big as a living room' came raining down, killing and injuring members of his group, some of whom are in a critical condition. Nature's fury: Nicanor Mabao Jr, one of the Filipino tour guides who survived after Mayon Volcano spewed a giant ash cloud and a hail of rocks, killing five and injuring eight more Mayon rumbled to life yesterday, spewing room-sized rocks toward nearly 30 climbers Jesalva said he rushed back to the base camp at 914 meters (3,000 feet) to call for help. Among the dead were three Germans and their Filipino guide, said Albay provincial governer Joey Salceda. Another foreigner was presumed dead, but Salceda said everyone else on the mountain was accounted for by noon. Eight people were injured and Salceda said the others were being brought down the mountain. Speaking from Legazpi, the provincial capital at the foothill of the mountain, he said: 'The injured are all foreigners ... they cannot walk. If you can imagine, the boulders there are as big as cars. Some of them slid and rolled down. We will rappel the rescue team, and we will rappel them up again. A mushroom cloud of volcanic ash shoots up to the sky after daybreak, as seen from Legazpi in the Philippines Wounded: Police and rescuers carry Nicas Mabao Jr to a waiting ambulance An Austrian mountaineer and two Spaniards were rescued with small bruises, he added. Tuesday's eruption was normal for the restive Mayon, said Renato Solidum, the head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. The 2,460-meter (8,070-foot) mountain about 340 kilometers (212 miles) southeast of Manila has erupted about 40 times during the last 400 years. In 2010, thousands of residents moved to temporary shelters when the volcano ejected ash up to five miles from the crater. Rescuers assist the tour guide after the eruption. The volcano is one of the nation's most active Survivor: Mountaineer Bon Deblois arrives at camp as rain hammers down in the aftermath of the blast Solidum said no alert was raised after the latest eruption and no evacuation was being planned. Climbers are not allowed when an alert is up, and the recent calm may have encouraged this week's trek. However, Solidum said that even with no alert raised, the immediate zone around the volcano is supposed to be a no-go area because of the risk of a sudden eruption. Salceda said he would enforce a ban on climbers. Despite the risks, Mayon and its near-perfect cone is a favorite spot for volcano watchers. Most enjoy the occasional nighttime spectacle of the rim lit by flowing lava, viewing from the safety of hotels in Legazpi. The volcano has a trail to the crater that is walkable though it's steep and strewn with rocks and debris from past eruptions. A 2009 file picture of Mayon. The victims were 2,000 feet away from the volcano crater when they were hit by boulders