Lava cascades down the slopes of Mayon Volcano as seen from Sto. Domingo town, Albay province in Bicol region of the Philippines late of 26 December 2009. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Mayon continued to exhibit a high level of activity during the past 24-hour observation period. Last December 20, the Phivolcs raised the alert level to '4', meaning a hazardous eruption is due in days. Nearly 46,655 residents at the foot of the volcano have evacuated their homes and moved to schools designated as evacuation centres, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Councils. EPA/DENNIS M. SABANGAN
Lava cascades down the slopes of Mayon Volcano as seen from Legazpi city, Albay province in Bicol region of the Philippines before dawn of 27 December 2009. After a respite of sorts Mayon Volcano in Albay province grew restive again with state volcanologists recording at least six explosions before dawn of 27 December. Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) head Renato Solidum Jr. reminded residents near Mayon’s danger zone against being lulled into a false sense of security. Neary 50,000 people living on the slopes of the volcano have been evacuated and soldiers and police strictly imposed checkpoints to prevent residents from returning to their homes. The 2,472-metre volcano has erupted about 50 times since 1616. It last erupted in July 2006, forcing more than 30,000 people to flee their homes. Mayon‘s most violent eruption was in 1814, when more than 1,200 people were killed and a town was buried in volcanic mud. An eruption in 1993 killed 79 people. EPA/DENNIS M. SABANGAN
Lava cascades down the slopes of Mayon Volcano as seen from Legazpi city, Albay province in Bicol region of the Philippines before dawn of 27 December 2009. After a respite of sorts Mayon Volcano in Albay province grew restive again with state volcanologists recording at least six explosions before dawn of 27 December. Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) head Renato Solidum Jr. reminded residents near Mayon’s danger zone against being lulled into a false sense of security. Neary 50,000 people living on the slopes of the volcano have been evacuated and soldiers and police strictly imposed checkpoints to prevent residents from returning to their homes. The 2,472-metre volcano has erupted about 50 times since 1616. It last erupted in July 2006, forcing more than 30,000 people to flee their homes. Mayon‘s most violent eruption was in 1814, when more than 1,200 people were killed and a town was buried in volcanic mud. An eruption in 1993 killed 79 people. EPA/DENNIS M. SABANGAN
Lava cascades down the slopes of Mayon Volcano as seen from Sto. Domingo town, Albay province in Bicol region of the Philippines late of 26 December 2009. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Mayon continued to exhibit a high level of activity during the past 24-hour observation period. Last December 20, the Phivolcs raised the alert level to '4', meaning a hazardous eruption is due in days. Nearly 46,655 residents at the foot of the volcano have evacuated their homes and moved to schools designated as evacuation centres, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Councils. EPA/DENNIS M. SABANGAN
Lava cascades down the slopes of Mayon Volcano as seen from Sto. Domingo town, Albay province in Bicol region of the Philippines late of 26 December 2009. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Mayon continued to exhibit a high level of activity during the past 24-hour observation period. Last December 20, the Phivolcs raised the alert level to '4', meaning a hazardous eruption is due in days. Nearly 46,655 residents at the foot of the volcano have evacuated their homes and moved to schools designated as evacuation centres, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Councils. EPA/DENNIS M. SABANGAN
Lava cascades down the slopes of Mayon Volcano as seen from Sto. Domingo town, Albay province in Bicol region of the Philippines late of 26 December 2009. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Mayon continued to exhibit a high level of activity during the past 24-hour observation period. Last December 20, the Phivolcs raised the alert level to '4', meaning a hazardous eruption is due in days. Nearly 46,655 residents at the foot of the volcano have evacuated their homes and moved to schools designated as evacuation centres, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Councils. EPA/DENNIS M. SABANGAN
Lava cascades down the slopes of Mayon Volcano as seen from Legazpi City, Albay province in Bicol region of the Philippines, 25 December 2009. While the rest of the country celebrated Christmas, Mayon Volcano continued to act up, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on 25 December. Over the last 24 hours, a total of 871 volcanic earthquakes and at least 96 ash explosions were monitored. The explosions produced light to brown grayish ash columns that reached heights of up to two kilometers above the crater, Phivolcs said. Nearly 46,655 residents at the foot of the volcano have evacuated their homes and moved to schools designated as evacuation centres, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Councils. EPA/DENNIS M. SABANGAN
Lava cascades down the slopes of Mayon Volcano s as seen from Legazpi City, Albay province in Bicol region of the Philippines at dawn of 25 December 2009. While the rest of the country celebrated Christmas, Mayon Volcano continued to act up, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on Friday, 25 December. Over the last 24 hours, a total of 871 volcanic earthquakes and at least 96 ash explosions were monitored. The explosions produced light to brown grayish ash columns that reached heights of up to two kilometers above the crater, Phivolcs said. Nearly 46,655 residents at the foot of the volcano have evacuated their homes and moved to schools designated as evacuation centres, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Councils. EPA/DENNIS M. SABANGAN
Lava cascades down the slopes of Mayon Volcano in a mild eruption seen from Legazpi City, Albay province in Bicol region of the Philippines, 24 December 2009. More ash explosions and rumbling sounds from Mayon Volcano have kept state volcanologists on edge on whether to raise the alert level to '5'. EPA/FRANCIS R. MALASIG
Lava cascades down the slopes of Mayon Volcano as seen from Legazpi City, Albay province in Bicol region of the Philippines on 24 December 2009. More ash explosions and rumbling sounds from Mayon Volcano have kept state volcanologists on edge on whether to raise the alert level to '5.' EPA/DENNIS M. SABANGAN
