Volcanic Eruption Imminent for Philippines, page 1

According to Reuters evacuations are underway by order of the government of the Philippines in the face of an imminent eruption of Mayon the Philippines most active volcano, after a series of three ash explosions signaled a possible eruption within days.

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MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines raised the alert on its most active volcano to the second-highest level on Monday and ordered the evacuation of around 20,000 people after three ash explosions signaled a possible eruption within days.

Mayon volcano in the central Philippines has been spewing lava and boulders the size of cars since last month, leaving a bubbling, pyrotechnic trail more than 6 km (4 miles) down its southeastern slope.

"We deem it necessary to raise the alert level to four because there were three ash explosions this morning," Philippine volcanology and seismology director Renato Solidum told Reuters.

"That would mean that the hazardous eruption is more likely."

The military sent trucks to ferry thousands of villagers to evacuation centers outside an 8 km (5 mile) danger zone on the southeast of the 2,462-metre-high (8,077 feet) volcano.

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It had been previously estimated that as many as 60,000 residence in Albay province would be evacuated in the event of a major eruption with lava moving as fast as 60 km/hr. The possibility of a high number of deaths could result from such a fast moving lava flow, If the proper precautions are not taken.