PHILIPPINES - The Philippines’ most active volcano has awoken again. On Sunday, lava pooled to the surface of the volcano’s crater showing a glowing red hot core just below. By Monday, the crater of the rumbling Philippine volcano was glowing bright red. Coupled with vulcanologists’ warnings it could erupt within days, the glowing crater caused thousands of residents to flee from their homes in search of safety.
The volcano lies in the coconut-growing Albay province about 210 miles southeast of Manila. More than 12,000 people have been ordered to leave a four mile (seven-kilometer) evacuation zone as scientists fear the eruption of the Mayon volcano, and there are warnings of destructive mudflows and toxic clouds. Volcanic earthquakes and rockfalls have also violently shaken the summit of Mayon over the last 24 hours, after a number of steam-driven eruptions, scientists said.
Lava flowed just less than half a mile down a gulley from the crater and on Monday morning, ash clouds appeared mid-slope, said Renato Solidum, head of the volcano institute.