The volcano, which has been oozing lava for weeks is also emitting gas and ash, all signs of a powerful eruption any day now. -- PHOTO: REUTERSLEGASPI (Philippines) - THE rumbling Mayon volcano in the Philippines is showing signs of becoming clogged with lava and this could lead to an explosive eruption, a government volcanologist said on Saturday.
The volcano, which has been oozing lava for weeks is also emitting gas and ash, all signs of a powerful eruption any day now, said Mr Ed Laguerta, head of the government's volcanology team monitoring Mayon.
'Mayon volcano is still in a high state of unrest and in the coming days it could still have an explosive eruption,' he warned in a radio interview. 'The number of (volcanic) quakes have lessened but now the quakes are of a different variety. What is becoming clear is that it (the volcano) is getting clogged. That is when the lava is rising but cannot get out,' he said.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said it has kept Mayon on alert level four - meaning a hazardous eruption could occur within days.
The government has evacuated more than 47,000 people living around the volcano, which is located about 330 kilometres (200 miles) south-east of Manila, since it began belching smoke and oozing lava earlier this month. They are housed in 28 makeshift evacuation centres - mostly government schools - and could remain there for more than a month until the volcano calms down, said Mr Jukes Nunez, director of the disaster preparations office.
The 2,460-metre (8,070-foot) volcano, which is famed for its near-perfect cone, has erupted 48 times in recorded history. In 1814, more than 1,200 people were killed as lava buried the town of Cagsawa. -- AFP
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