The Philippines has raised the alert level at Mayon volcano in the central province of Albay following a moderately explosive eruption.
The state seismology agency, PHIVOLCS, said the alert level had been raised to Level Three on a five-level scale.
According to reports, at Level Three, the volcano poses an increased risk of lava flows and hazardous eruptions in the coming days and weeks.
Authorities advised residents and visitors to stay outside a six-kilometre danger zone due to the risk of lava flows, rockfalls and other volcanic hazards. Airlines were also advised to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit.
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Mayon, the country’s most active volcano, has erupted more than 50 times over the past four centuries and is a popular tourist destination because of its near-perfect conical shape.
Its most destructive eruption occurred in February 1814, when lava flows buried an entire town and killed about 1,200 people.
