Mayon volcano spews ash as it erupts anew Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018 as seen from Legazpi city, Albay province, southeast of Manila, Philippines. (Associated Press)

LEGAZPI (PHILIPPINES): The Philippines' most active volcano spewed fountains of red-hot lava and massive ash plumes anew Tuesday in a dazzling but increasingly dangerous eruption that has sent more than 56,000 villagers fleeing to evacuation centers.

Lava fountains gushed up 700 meters (2,300 feet) above Mount Mayon's crater and ash plumes rose up to 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) Monday night. At least three major blasts followed Tuesday, including an explosion at nightfall that was capped by one of the most massive lava displays since the volcano started acting up more than a week ago, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

"We couldn't sleep last night because of the loud rumblings. It sounded like an airplane that's about to land," Quintin Velardo, a 59-year-old farmer, told The Associated Press at an evacuation center in Legazpi city where he took his wife, children and grandchildren on Tuesday.

Despite the danger, he said he needed to return to his village, about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the erupting volcano, to take his cow and water buffalo to safety. A few minutes later, the volcano belched a massive column of grayish ash that punched through white clouds into the blue sky.

"There it goes again," Velardo said, his family huddled near him.

Authorities warned a violent eruption may occur in hours or days, characterized by more rumblings and pyroclastic flows — superheated gas and volcanic debris that race down the slopes at high speeds, vaporizing everything in their path.

After Monday's explosion, officials raised Mayon's alert level to four on a scale of five, and the danger zone was expanded to 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the crater, requiring thousands more residents to be evacuated, including at least 12,000 who returned to their homes last week as Mayon's rumblings temporarily eased and then scrambled back to the emergency shelters this week.

At least 56,217 people were taking shelter in 46 evacuation camps Tuesday and army troops and police were helping move more villagers from their homes, officials said.

Authorities struggled to prevent villagers from sneaking back to check on their homes and farms and to watch a popular cockfight in Albay's Santo Domingo town despite the risks and police patrols and checkpoints, said Cedric Daep, a provincial disaster response official.

In a sign of desperation, Daep told a news conference that he has recommended electricity and water supplies be cut in communities within the no-go zones to discourage residents from returning.

"If pyroclastic flows hit people, there is no chance for life," Daep said. "Let us not violate the natural law, avoid the prohibited zone, because if you violate, the punishment is the death penalty."

The daytime eruptions have plunged nearby villages into darkness and sent lava, rocks and debris cascading down Mayon's slopes toward the no-entry danger zone. There have been no reports of deaths or injuries. Airplanes have been ordered to stay away from the crater and ash-laden winds, and several domestic flights have been canceled.

Volcanic ash fell Monday in more than a dozen towns in coconut-growing Albay and nearby Camarines Sur province, with visibility heavily obscured in a few towns because of the thick gray ash, Jukes Nunez, another Albay provincial disaster response officer, said by telephone.

"It was like night time at noon, there was zero visibility in some areas because the ash fall was so thick," Nunez said.

More than 30,000 ash masks and about 5,000 sacks of rice, along with medicine, water and other supplies, were being sent to evacuation centers, Office of Civil Defense regional director Claudio Yucot said late Monday.

Food packs, water, medicine and other relief goods remain adequate but may run out by mid-February if the eruption continues and new supplies fail to come on time, officials said.

With its near-perfect cone, Mayon has long been popular with climbers and tourists but has erupted about 50 times in the last 500 years, sometimes violently. The 8,070-foot (2,460-meter) volcano has generated tourism revenues and jobs in Albay, about 340 kilometers (210 miles) southeast of Manila.

In 2013, an ash eruption killed five climbers who had ventured near the summit despite warnings. Its most destructive eruption, in 1814, killed more than 1,200 people and buried the town of Cagsawa in volcanic mud. The belfry of Cagsawa's stone church still juts from the ground in an eerie reminder of Mayon's fury.

Since childhood, Velardo, the farmer, said he has gambled his and his family's lives in Mayon's shadow but that he and thousands of other landless farmers have no place else to go. "I tell my grandchildren to study hard so they can live elsewhere without a volcano to keep an eye on all your life."

The Philippines, which has about 22 active volcanoes, lies in the "Ring of Fire," a line of seismic faults surrounding the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes and volcanic activity are common.

In 1991, Mount Pinatubo in the northern Philippines exploded in one of the biggest volcanic eruptions of the 20th century, killing about 800 people, covering entire towns and cities in ash and partly prompting the U.S. government to abandon its vast air and naval bases on the main northern Luzon island.</s>The spewing lava was the result of an extreme explosion from the Philippines’ most active volcano, prompting authorities to warn an eruption is imminent. Footage from Rappler shows ash and lava shoot out of Mount Mayon as fears of a violent eruption grows. Up to 56,000 residents have been forced to evacuate from nearby villages following two explosions from the volcano - one on Monday evening and another on Tuesday morning. The danger zone surrounding the volcano was expanded to 9 kilometres following the second explosion.

Lava spilt out of the Mayon volcano and a could of ash rose up to 1.9 miles, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Philippine Red Cross tweeted: “Just in. Another explosion of Mayon Volcano taken at 5:50pm today. “Our team was at Barangay Kimantong, Darage, Albay when this video was taken. Let us continue to be alert and safe!” On Monday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised its alert on Mayon to level 4, signifying an eruption is due within days or hours. A level 4 alert means Mt Mayon is active, with persistent tremors, low-frequency type earthquake. But a level 5 alert signifies a hazardous eruption is underway.

The volcano, located in the Albay province of central Philippines, first spewed ash on Saturday afternoon - followed by a further five-minute eruption on Sunday morning. Director of Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Renato Solidum warned during a media briefing Monday that the explosion could be similar to that of 2001. Mr Solidum said the movement of hot lava blocks, pumice, ash and gas along the slopes of Mt Mayon could reach up to three kilometers. Mount Mayon’s last eruption took place in 2013 when four climbers and their guide died after trekking near the summit.</s>This article has been updated to include statements from PHIVOLCS director Renato Solidum and updates on flights to the Bicol region.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22) — Authorities on Monday raised the alert level over Mayon to below a notch of the highest warning of a dangerous eruption.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) declared alert level 4 which warns of an imminent hazardous eruption — possibly within days. Level 5 means a hazardous eruption is taking place.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council-Operations Center also raised a red alert status over the restless volcano.

PHIVOLCS reported "increased seismic unrest, lava fountaining, and summit explosions" in the area. The danger zone has been extended to eight kilometers from the previous seven.

PHIVOLCS director Renato Solidum warned of two possible scenarios in a press conference on Monday: continuous lava eruptions, or a more dangerous pyroclastic flow.

A pyroclastic flow is a mix of hot lava blocks, pumice, ash, and volcanic gas that moves at high speed down a volcano, according to the United States Geological Survey.

Solidum said this eruption was a possible "smaller version [of the] 2001 eruption," which had pyroclastic flow.

He also observed the plumes of smoke were mostly white, and could be attributed to water being mixed with the lava.

Solidum recounted that Mayon only had lava explosions in 2006 and 2009. A 2014 eruption also spewed out limited deposits. To date, the largest eruption has been in 1984, with the danger zone stretching to 11 kilometers.

He estimated that a possible pyroclastic flow would reach up to three kilometers in this eruption.

"The public is reminded to observe the danger zone — not to panic, but in essence just be ready. Prepare either gas masks, handkerchiefs or clothes to prevent inhalation of fine ash," said Solidum.

Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara first made the announcement on Facebook, calling the activity an eruption. Photos he posted showed clouds of ash rising from the volcano.

In a phone call with CNN Philippines, Bichara said there was zero visibility in the municipalities of Guinobatan and Camalig, as well as the city of Ligao in Albay.

The governor advised residents to stay at home and be alert.

"Everyone is advised to wear their facemasks and to stay indoors," Bichara added in another social media update.

Bichara also announced on Facebook guidelines on class suspensions for January 23.

He said classes in Legazpi, Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao, Oas, and Polangui were suspended until further notice.

However, class suspensions in the following areas were left up to the discretion of their respective mayors:

Rapu-Rapu

Manito

Jovellar

Pio Duran

Tiwi

Malilipot

Tabaco

Bacacay

Libon

Malinao

Sto. Domingo

"This kind of eruption is not over yet. Just like what we experienced a long time ago, it might extend up to a month," said Bichara. "Maybe tomorrow, there will no eruption, and the following day there will be [one]."

Legazpi airport temporarily closed

Legazpi airport temporarily closed airport operations effective 2:21 p.m. on Monday, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General Jim Sydiongco announced.

PHIVOLCS also advised civil aviation authorities to make sure pilots avoid flying close to the summit, as the ash is hazardous to aircraft.

Local airline Cebu Pacific also advised the cancellation of flights bound for Legazpi and Naga City.

The affected travels include Flights DG 6204 (Cebu to Legazpi), DG 6205 (Legazpi to Cebu), 5J 327 (Manila to Legazpi), 5J 328 (Legazpi to Manila), DG 6117 (Manila to Naga), and DG 6118 (Naga to Manila).

Passengers flying to and from the two cities on Tuesday, January 23, are strongly advised to wait for further announcements, Cebu Pacific added.

PHIVOLCS seeks long term solutions

Solidum said that residents should start settling more than six kilometers away from Mayon, so they will not have to evacuate frequently during volcanic activity.

"Ang long term dapat na gagawin sa mga kababayan natin, walang nakatira sa permanent danger zone," he said.

[Translation: The long term solution our countrymen can adapt is, no one lives in the permanent danger zone.]

Activity from the restless volcano drove thousands of residents to evacuate last week. The new development at Mayon comes after Legazpi residents were allowed to return to their homes on Thursday.

Related: Legazpi residents allowed to go home amid Mayon Volcano unrest

This is a developing story. Refresh the page for more updates.</s>LEGAZPI CITY: Mayon, the volcano with the perfect cone, is just starting to unleash her fury, Eduardo Laguerta, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) resident chief volcanologist said.

“What we saw on Monday and on Tuesday is just a start and a prelude to stronger explosive eruptions,” Laguerta said.

As this developed, the provincial government of Albay on Tuesday imposed alert level 5 contingency measures following threats of pyroclastic flow.

The 2,460-meter (8,070-feet) iconic landmark of Bicolandia has been letting off steam since last week and spewed ash on Monday and Tuesday with four to five-hour lulls in between.

Laguerta, who has been monitoring Mayon for almost 40 years, said Monday’s eruption was denser than the 9 a.m. explosion on Tuesday.

“Tuesday’s episode of explosion is just starting so we don’t know how long the eruptions will last but you see a series of pyroclastic flow. At least we have the element of time. Mayon is the most active volcano and is continuously replenishing her magma,” Laguerta added.

Phivolcs raised the volcano’s alert level to 4 on Monday after two successive 10-kilometer cauliflower-type ash columns billowed in the sky, generating heavy ashfall in the towns of Camalig and Guinobatan as well as Ligao City.

“If we go back to the historical eruptions of Mayon, the ash columns before was darker than today’s. That’s why we are looking closely at the parameters of Mayon but we’re not discounting the possibility that Mayon’s present activity may lead to a bigger and stronger explosion,” he said.

Laguerta said Phivolcs scientists are working together to scrutinize Mayon’s activity.

For the past 24 hours since Monday, Mayon’s vibration and rumbling sounds were getting stronger and were heard as far as 15 to 16 kilometers away from its slopes.

Lagueta said Phivolcs is looking at whether the parameters Mayon is showing now is similar to that of the 1897 eruption where the pyroclastic flow reached as far as the shoreline of Santo Domingo.

“From 1897 to 2018 it’s been more than a century when the longest ‘pangiriti-ngiti oson’ [pyroclastic flow]occurred that destroyed the town of Santo Domingo. The 1984 eruption also appeared to be very quiet with a weeklong lull before the sustained explosive eruptions then took place for a week,” he said.

Pyroclastic flow also known as a pyroclastic density current is a fast-moving current of hot gas and volcanic materials about 1,200 degrees celcius with a speed of up to 700km per hour.

As the provincial government of Albay imposed alert level 5, Cedric Daep, Albay Public Safety Emergency Management Office (Apsemo) chief, said they also imposed a nine-kilometer extended danger zone (EDZ).

“We did this so there will at least be a one kilometer buffer zone to prevent residents from going back to their communities in the wake of Mayon’s erratic character,” he said.

Mayon’s ash plumes drifted toward the villages of Legazpi City, Daraga and Camalig towns in the second district and in the municipality of Guinobatan and Ligao City in third district.

The heavy ashfall badly affected the southwest portion of the volcano covering Camalig, Guinobatan and Ligao City with a dark blanket of ash owing to the seasonal wind pattern.

 Daep reiterated that the no man’s land must be avoided as disaster officials will no longer conduct rescue measures once a pyroclastic flow occurrs even in the extended nine-km EDZ.

They also recommended to Albay Power Energy Corp. to cut power supply in areas within the no man’s land to discourage people from returning to their houses in the area.

Following the imposition of the extended zone, tens of thousands of residents in Santo Domingo, Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, including the cities of Legazpi and Ligao were again directed to evacuate.</s>Mayon threat not yet over

LEGAZPI CITY – Some evacuees have started to return home, prompting volcanologists to warn them the threat of explosive eruption from Mayon volcano remains despite a decrease in activities in the past few days.



From a high of 40,000, the number of evacuees is down to 27,643 , most of them from 32 barangays in Albay, including Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan and Malilipot.

Mariton Bornas, of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), said there is still inflation on the edifice of Mayon which indicates high magma pressure building up inside the volcano.

She added the volcano still pushes out lava which has already reached three kilometers from the crater and also emitted some six million cubic meters of volcanic materials as of yesterday morning.

This means, Bornas said, a scenario of hazardous eruption is still highly possible.

“I would like to dispel any notion that since there were decreases in its activity, the explosive eruption is already unlikely. That is not true. We are still looking at several parameters,” said Bornas.

“We have to look at all the parameters on a daily, hourly basis for changes because anything could still happen anytime,” she added.

She noted how Mayon Volcano has only offloaded six million cubic meters of volcanic materials.

In comparison, she cited how, during the 2006 eruption, Mayon released some 60 million cubic meters of volcanic materials.

Bornas said Phivolcs personnel monitoring Mayon Volcano have been using various instruments to accurately observe and monitor its activities.

“We are proud to say that Mayon Volcano is one of the more well-observed volcanoes,” said Bornas.

Many of the evacuees have indicated their desire to return to their homes.

“We don’t want to stay for long because we do not want to bank on relief goods for our daily meal,” said Mary Ann Almayda, 22, who resides in Barangay Lidong in Sto. Domingo, Albay.</s>The Philippines' most active volcano ejected a huge column of lava fragments, ash and smoke in a thunderous explosion Monday, sending thousands of villagers back to evacuation centers and prompting a warning that a violent eruption may be imminent.The midday explosion sent superheated lava, molten rocks and steam between 3.5 to 5 kilometers (2 to 3 miles) into the blue sky, and then some cascaded down Mount Mayon's slopes and shrouded nearby villages in darkness, Renato Solidum of the Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology and other officials said.From the crater, the deadly debris billowed about three kilometers (1.8 miles) down on the southern plank of Mayon toward a no-entry danger zone. There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries, officials said.The explosion was the most powerful since the volcano started acting up more than a week ago.Due to its relatively gentle eruption last week, thousands left emergency shelters and returned to their communities in Legazpi city outside the danger zone.Authorities on Monday raised the alert level to four on a scale of five, which means an explosive eruption is possible within hours or days. A danger zone around Mayon was expanded to 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the crater, which means thousands of villagers will have to leave their homes, officials said.Airplanes were ordered to stay away from the crater and ash-laden winds and several flights were canceled.Volcanic ash fell in about a dozen towns in coconut-growing Albay province, where Mayon lies, and in nearby Camarines Sur province, with visibility being heavily obscured in a few towns because of the thick gray ash fall, Jukes Nunez, an Albay provincial disaster response officer, said by telephone."It was like night time at noon, there was zero visibility in some areas because the ash fall was so thick," Nunez said.More than 30,000 ash masks and about 5,000 sacks of rice, along with medicine, water and other supplies, were being sent to evacuation centers, Office of Civil Defense regional director Claudio Yucot said.Mayon lies about 340 kilometers (210 miles) southeast of Manila. With its near-perfect cone, it is popular with climbers and tourists but has erupted about 50 times in the last 500 years, sometimes violently.In 2013, an ash eruption killed five climbers who had ventured near the summit despite warnings. Mayon's first recorded eruption was in 1616 and the most destructive, in 1814, killed more than 1,200 people and buried the town of Cagsawa in volcanic mud. The belfry of Cagsawa's stone church still juts out from the ground in an eerie reminder of Mayon's fury.The Philippines lies in the "Ring of Fire, " a line of seismic faults surrounding the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes and volcanic activity are common.In 1991, Mount Pinatubo in the northern Philippines exploded in one of the biggest volcanic eruptions of the 20th century, killing about 800 people.Source: Associated Press</s>Know Your Value</s>Mayon volcano spews ash as it erupts anew Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018 as seen from Legazpi city, Albay province, southeast of Manila, Philippines. (Associated Press)

MANILA: The Philippines' most active volcano spewed fountains of lava and massive ash plumes overnight and Tuesday morning after authorities warned a violent eruption may be imminent.

Lava fountains reached up to 700 meters (2,300 feet) above Mount Mayon's crater and ash plumes rose up to 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) during the night and before daybreak, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. An explosive eruption Monday was the most powerful since the volcano started acting up more than a week ago.

Disaster officials in Albay province, where Mayon lies, say more than 30,000 people are staying in evacuation centers.

Officials raised Mayon's alert level to four on a scale of five, meaning a violent eruption is possible within hours or days. The danger zone expanded to 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the crater, affecting thousands more residents.

The eruptions have shrouded nearby villages in darkness and sent lava, rocks and debris cascading down Mayon's slopes toward the no-entry danger zone.

There have no reports of deaths and injuries. Airplanes have been ordered to stay away from the crater and ash-laden winds and several flights have been canceled.

Volcanic ash fell in about a dozen towns in coconut-growing Albay province and nearby Camarines Sur province, with visibility being heavily obscured in a few towns because of the thick gray ash fall, Jukes Nunez, an Albay provincial disaster response officer, said by telephone.

"It was like night time at noon, there was zero visibility in some areas because the ash fall was so thick," Nunez said.

More than 30,000 ash masks and about 5,000 sacks of rice, along with medicine, water and other supplies, were being sent to evacuation centers, Office of Civil Defense regional director Claudio Yucot said.

Mayon lies about 340 kilometers (210 miles) southeast of Manila. With its near-perfect cone, it is popular with climbers and tourists but has erupted about 50 times in the last 500 years, sometimes violently.

In 2013, an ash eruption killed five climbers who had ventured near the summit despite warnings. Its most destructive eruption, in 1814, killed more than 1,200 people and buried the town of Cagsawa in volcanic mud. The belfry of Cagsawa's stone church still juts from the ground in an eerie reminder of Mayon's fury.

The Philippines lies in the "Ring of Fire," a line of seismic faults surrounding the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes and volcanic activity are common.

In 1991, Mount Pinatubo in the northern Philippines exploded in one of the biggest volcanic eruptions of the 20th century, killing about 800 people.</s>Here is a list of reminders for the public during and after a volcanic eruption

MANILA, Philippines – During the Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) conducted by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management council (NDRRMC) on Monday, January 22, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Director Renato Solidum said the eruption of Mayon volcano may not be over.

The Mayon Volcano in Albay was placed under Alert Level 4 on Monday after it spewed a giant ash column that went high as high up as 5 kilometers past noon.

Phivolcs raised the alert level and also extended the coverage of the danger zone around the volcano to 8 kilometers (km) from the crater. (READ: DSWD plans for immediate recovery in case of Mayon eruption)

Solidum added that the recent volcanic activity in Mayon is stronger than the 2009 incident.

A total of 6,598 families or 25,191 individuals from Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao City, Daraga, Tabaco City, Malilipot, Santo Domingo (Libog) and Legazpi City all in the province of Albay, are staying inside 27 evacuation centers.

Meanwhile, 740 families or 3,137 individuals are seeking shelter with relatives. (READ: Albay seeks 'augmentation support' from gov't for evacuees)

What to do

Members of the NDRRMC response cluster advised the public to stay vigilant, desist from entering the 8 kilometer danger zone, and wear protective masks as necessary.

Here’s what the public should do during a volcanic eruption:
• Cover your mouth with wet cloth and wear protective goggles
• Keep your pets in their shelter or inside to avoid them from inhaling ash
• Stay away from rivers and streams for possible lahar flow

After a volcanic eruption, the public is advised to remain alert and cautious. Here's a rundown of what they should do after an eruption:
• Leave the evacuation area only when authorities say it is safe
• Scrape the accumulated ash in roofs to prevent collapse

The national council, through its regional office, has so far provided assistance through the distribution of P20 million worth of relief and assistance in affected areas. Logistical and fund augmentation were likewise discussed during the meeting. – with reports from Lou Gepuela/Rappler.com</s>The alert for Mayon Volcano in the Philippines province of Albay is raised from level three to level four by local authorities, meaning a "hazardous eruption is imminent".

Lava fountains shoot out of the Mayon volcano in Albay, the Philippines, on the night of January 21, 2018. (Credit: ABC)

The alert for Mayon Volcano in the Philippines province of Albay has been raised from level three to level four by local authorities, meaning a "hazardous eruption is imminent".

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the volcano was experiencing "intense unrest".

The institute upgraded the alert to level four just a few minutes after the volcano suddenly erupted lava at around noon local time.

The highest alert level is five.

Local authorities have evacuated residents nearby and expanded the alert area to eight kilometres.

There are no reports of any chaos so far in the surrounding area.

The volcano became active on January 13 and its alert level was raised from level one to level three, before going quiet for a week.

Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara said all schools in the province would be suspended on January 23.

Mount Mayon — one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines and famous for its beauty and near-perfect symmetry — is located on Luzon Island, more than 300 kilometres south-east of the Philippines capital Manila, and has an elevation of 2,462 metres.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raises Mount Mayon's alert level to 4, its second highest volcano category which indicates a hazardous eruption is imminent. Mayon's activity, which began the afternoon of January 13, 2018, has displaced about 40,000 residents in Albay Province on Luzon island.