Philippines raises alert against Mayon Volcano

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Tuesday raised the alert level of Mayon volcano that erupted violently in the past years in Albay Province, Central Philippines.

In an interview with local TV ANC, PHIVOLCS director Renato Solidum warned the public not to venture within the volcano's six- kilometer danger zone.

Solidum said his agency has advised the Albay provincial coordinating council to be on alert level 2.

The volcano's lava dome increases in size up to now, according to PHIVOLCS' watch. Albay resident volcanologist Ed Laguerta said that a low frequency volcanic quake was registered in their latest monitoring.

The volcano last erupted in July 2004 but with little impact. The most destructive eruption of Mayon occurred on Feb. 1, 1814. Lava flows buried the town of Cagsawa and killed 1,200 people. In 2001, nearly 25,000 people were ecacuated following its eruption.

Mayon, 330 kilometers southeast to Manila, is the most active volcano in the country, and has erupted around 50 times for the past 400 years. At present, it is barely populated within its six- kilometer danger zone.

Source: Xinhua