Mayon activity continues, thousands evacuated

Mayon volcano in the Philippines has continued to erupt lava and ash as thousands of people are evacuated from surrounding towns and villages. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has reported glowing lava fragments continually being ejected onto the upper and middle slopes of the volcano. ‘Now lava is trickling down, but if the ascent of magma is sustained there will be lava flows’, Phivolcs head Renato Solidum has warned. ‘There is also the possibility of an explosion’. The head of disaster relief for eastern Bicol region has told reporters that ash explosions have reached heights of 1000 metres.

Mandatory evacuations of around 10,000 families from within Mayon’s 6-8 km danger zone have begun, with more than 20,000 people moved out so far. Ultimately around 50,000 people may need to be evacuated. The Albay provincial authorities, faced with a huge humanitarian problem that could last for months, are considering whether to place the province under a ‘state of calamity’, reports ABS-CBN News.

Albay Governer Joey Salceda has had to change his plans. He was supposed to be one of the Philippine representatives at the Copenhagen climate conference this week. Now Mayon has erupted, and he won’t be able to go.

For all our Mayon coverage: Mayon « The Volcanism Blog.

News
Thousands flee Mayon – Manila Bulletin, 15 December 2009
Thousands flee restive volcano in eastern Philippines – EarthTimes, 15 December 2009
Albay mulls declaring state of calamity – ABS-CBN News, 15 December 2009
Thousands flee as Philippine volcano spews lava – AFP, 15 December 2009
Thousands leave homes as Philippine volcano threatens to erupt – The Guardian, 15 December 2009
Mayon volcano in the Philippines oozes lava; alert up – Associated Press, 15 December 2009
Over 2000 families flee from Mayon volcano – Philippine Star, 15 December 2009
Thousands flee erupting volcano – ABC News, 15 December 2009
Thousands moved as volcano erupts – Press Association, 15 December 2009

Information
Global Volcanism Program: Mayon – summary information for Mayon (0703-03=)
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology – website for Phivolcs, when it’s working