The most active volcanoes in the Philippines are rumbling – the Mayon is being evacuated The most active volcanoes in the Philippines are rumbling – the Mayon is being evacuated

The Philippines’ most active volcano rumbles menacingly: Around 2,463-meter-high Mayon, about 10,000 people must be evacuated from the danger zone after numerous falling rocks and debris flows, the government of eastern Albay province announced Friday. Known for its perfect cone shape, Fire Mountain had previously produced pyroclastic flows of hot chunks of lava, ash and volcanic gases. Parts of the lava dome also collapsed, as reported by the Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology Philvolcs.

“Last night, marked crater glow and glowing rocks ejected from new liquid lava on top of Mount Mayon were also observed,” the latest warning said. Alert level 3 has been issued for the Mayon, which means that “a dangerous outbreak is possible within weeks or even days”. At an emergency meeting, provincial governor Edcel Greco Lagman said local residents should be evacuated to avoid possible casualties.

Famous for its large caldera (cauldron-shaped surface) and lake, Taal, the island’s second most active volcano, is also active again. Over the past week, clouds of steam rose to a height of 3,000 meters. The strong gas emissions caused volcanic smog (“Vog”) in several communities, which can be dangerous for the population. Residents of the province of Batangas have been asked to protect themselves with masks. Authorities also warned of possible acid rain that could damage crops. De Taal is located near the capital Manila.

Both volcanoes are located on the main island of Luzon. Mayon has erupted about 50 times since 1616 and Taal has had more than 30 major eruptions since 1572. The Philippines is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the most geologically active zone on Earth. (sda/dpa)