Philippines raises alert level at Mayon volcano
Ash plume during an eruption at Mayon volcano in Albay Province, Philippines Oct 30, in this screen grab obtained from a timelapse video.
PHOTO: Reuters
MANILA — The Philippines raised the alert level at the Mayon volcano in the central province of Albay on Friday (Oct 30) after a "moderately explosive eruption".
The state seismology agency Phivolcs said it raised the alert to level three on a five-level scale.
At alert level three, Mayon has increased chances of lava flows and hazardous eruptions in the coming days to weeks
People were advised to stay outside a 6-kilometre (3.7 miles) danger zone due to the danger of lava flows, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards
Airlines were also told to avoid flying close to the volcano's summit
Mayon, the country's most active volcano with more than 50 eruptions in the last four centuries, is a popular tourist destination because of its near-perfect conical shape
The most destructive eruption happened in February 1814 when lava flows buried an entire town and killed 1,200 people
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