World | Philippines
Mount Mayon belches more lava
Mount Mayon belched more lava on Thursday, a warning that a major eruption is in the offing. It forced officials to order more than 4,300 recalcitrant villagers to flee farms and abandon animals.
- By Claro Cortes, Correspondent
- Published: 00:00 July 20, 2006
Manila: Mount Mayon belched more lava on Thursday, a warning that a major eruption is in the offing.
It forced officials to order more than 4,300 recalcitrant villagers to flee farms and abandon animals.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the lava flowed down the volcano's Bonga Gully and sent a steam of brown smoke towards the northeast direction.
"It was a secondary pyroclastic flow," added volcano expert Alex Baloloy. "Part of the lava dome in the upper part of the crater collapsed and rolled down towards the Bonga Gully."
Baloloy said the material also formed a steam cloud that drifted in the northeast direction, towards Santo Domingo town.
He said the incident took place at 7.41am.
Residents in towns southeast of Mayon ran out of their houses after seeing the upper part of the crater collapse during the lava flow.
In nearby Santo Domingo town, about 100 families grabbed their previously packed belongings and headed for the municipal hall.
Village chief Rogelio Paloloy said his constituents were overwhelmed by fear when the crater collapsed and clouds of ash blew towards their homes.
Classes were suspended at Bigaa Elementary School in Legaspi City as parents rushed to fetch their children after seeing the partial crater collapse.
Officials said several farmers continue to ignore their warnings and continue their activities inside the six-kilometre danger zone despite the threat of an eruption.
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