Philippines raises volcano alert, warns of hazardous eruptions

The Philippines raised the alert at its restive Mayon volcano by one notch early on Sunday, citing signs of rising magma that could lead to hazardous eruptions.

Residents were evacuated from two villages near the volcano, a tourist attraction in central Albay province because of its near-perfect cone shape, following a "phreatic or steam-driven eruption" on Saturday.

The explosion unleashed ash, rocks and sulfuric odor, and was followed by rumbling sounds and a faint glow in the crater, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in its latest bulletin.

Phivolcs raised the alert to level 2, which means that the current activity is "probably of magmatic origin, which could lead to more phreatic eruptions or eventually to hazardous magmatic eruptions."

IN PHOTOS: Ash fall from the Phreatic eruption of Mayon Volcano in Albay province. | Photo courtesy: Joey Salceda pic.twitter.com/QigL5xSKhf

— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) January 13, 2018

Mayon's most destructive eruption was in February 1841, when lava flows buried a town and killed 1,200 people. It last erupted in 2014, spewing lava and forcing thousands of people to evacuate.

"The public is strongly advised to be vigilant and desist from entering the six kilometre (3.7 mile) radius Permanent Danger Zone to minimize risks from sudden explosions, rockfall and landslides," Phivolcs said.

It advised people experiencing ashfall to cover their noses and mouths with a damp, clean cloth or dust mask. It also said aircraft must avoid flying close to the volcano's summit.

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