Philippines evacuates thousands amid volcano eruption threats

Mount Mayon is situated in the eastern province of Albay, some 330 km south of Manila capital city. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - Philippine officials on June 9 began evacuating some 10,000 residents living around the country’s most active volcano amid threats of an eruption.

Mayon Volcano generated pyroclastic density currents or hot flows of ash and debris as lava domes at the summit collapsed, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Mayon is at alert Level 3, meaning that it is currently in a relatively high level of unrest as magma is at the crater and hazardous eruption is possible within weeks or even days, the advisory said.  

According to the Albay province information office, about 2,400 families or 10,000 residents will have to evacuate the danger zone.

Mount Mayon is situated in the eastern province of Albay, some 330 km south of Manila capital city. Known for its perfect cone shape, it has been a famous tourist site.

The Philippines is part of the so-called "Ring of Fire" in the Pacific Ocean, where volcanic activity and earthquakes remain common.

In 1991, the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, around 100 km northwest of Manila, left more than 800 people dead./.

VNA