Philippines warns of Mayon volcano’s eruption risk hinh anh 1Mayon volcano danger map: Threat level rises amid 'imminent' devastation (Source: express.co.uk)

Hanoi (VNA) - Philippine authorities have raised the alert level for the Mayon volcano from level three to level four, meaning that a "hazardous eruption is imminent."

In a statement on January 22, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned that Mayon volcano in Albay province has been exhibiting increased seismic unrest, lava fountaining and summit explosions. Therefore, the institute extended the danger zone to 8 km radius from the summit vent, while urging pilots not to fly near the volcano's summit.

Phivolcs upgraded the volcano to alert level four just a few minutes after the erupted lava at about noon on January 22.

Several hours before placing the volcano under alert level four, the Phivolcs indicated that 500-metre and 200-metre high lava fountains were generated at 10:45 pm (local time) on January 21 and 2:25 am local time on January 22 respectively.

According to Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara, all schools will be suspended in the province on January 23.

The 2,462m Mountain Mayon, one of the Philippines’ most active volcanos, is in Albay province on the Philippine main Luzon Island more than 300 km southeast of the country’s capital Manila.

In an 1814 eruption, more than 1,200 people were killed and three towns were buried under mud and rock. It has erupted 51 times in the last 400 years.-VNA 
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