Philippines Volcano: Thousands Flee Homes As Mayon Spews Lava

Nearly 15,000 people have left their homes around a volcano spewing lava and noxious gases in the northeastern Philippines and may remain displaced for months, authorities warn.

Lava was seen flowing slowly on Tuesday from the mouth of the 2,462-metre (8,077-foot) Mayon volcano in Albay province, which was placed on high alert last week after tremors and hundreds of rockfalls

“Based on our previous experiences, this volcanic activity may persist for a few months,” Teresito Bacolcol, chief of the state volcanology and seismology agency, told DZMM radio, adding that residents usually living within 6km (3.7 miles) of the volcano on Luzon island would have to stay in evacuation centres.

Those who have been evacuated were sheltering in schools and community centres, disaster agency data show. An unspecified number of residents remain within the permanent danger zone below Mayon, an area long declared off-limits to people but where generations have lived and farmed.

Larry Llenaresas, a community leader in Albay, told DZMM radio more food and drinking water is needed for the displaced

cano should also be ready for possible evacuation as police set up checkpoints to prevent residents from returning.

“We will make sure evacuees can not return until they are advised to do so,” police regional director Westrimundo Obinque told reporters, according to the Reuters news agency.

Mayon is a tourist attraction because of its near-perfect conical shape.

Aljazeera/Shakirat Sadiq