Manila, Philippines — May 3: Thousands of people evacuated areas south of Manila after Mayon Volcano erupted, officials said, with authorities urging the public to avoid the six-kilometre radius danger zone around the crater. The volcanology institute raised Alert Level 3 on its five-step scale, reporting strombolian activity and short-lived lava fountaining from one of the country’s most active volcanoes, and warning of possible landslides and lava flows.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development reported that nearly 1,500 families are sheltering in evacuation centres. Heavy ashfall on Saturday blanketed several towns in Albay province, disrupting road traffic and daily activities. Local authorities continue to monitor the situation and enforce the exclusion zone as forecasts and volcanic behavior are assessed.
