UPDATE: The Philippine Government has ordered the evacuation of about 35,000 people from the immediate area of Mount Mayon. Read more at BBC |
Image after CIA Factbook
|
Mount Mayon Volcano, the most active volcano in the Philippines, is currently active, producing ash, lava flows and numerous tremors. Scientists at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology believe that a major eruption could occur within the next few weeks. The Philippine government has ordered evacuation of all areas within a six kilometer radius of the volcano and has issued warnings to people living immediately outside of the evacuation zone. This evacuation has involved over 4000 people, however if the alert level increases over 60,000 residents could be ordered to evacuate.
Mayon has erupted numerous times in the last few decades with ashfalls, large ash columns, lava flows and pyroclastic flows. Eruption "alerts" have been issued several times since the last major activity in 2001. The volcano has a history of producing deadly pyroclastic flows (see image below from a 1984 eruption).
For updates on the Mount Mayon eruption visit the
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology website.
Image by Earth Observatory
USGS Image by C.G. NewhallLabels: Volcanoes
