 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Thousands flee 'imminent' Philippines volcano eruption
Legaspi, Philippines, Aug 7, 2006 Thousands of people were being moved out of their homes in the central Philippines on Monday in the face of the "imminent" eruption of the rumbling Mayon volcano, officials said. Volcanologists previously said an explosive eruption by Mayon, one of the country's most active volcanoes, could threaten the lives of about 60,000 people. "We have to finish this by 12:00 noon (0400 GMT) to avoid incidents. These are orders from the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Center," Legaspi city mayor Noel Rosal said as he supervised the evacuation of 10,500 residents from four villages on Mayon's lower slopes. The region was rocked early Monday by five successive volcanic blasts within 40 minutes, followed by a fountain of lava from Mayon's crater, he said on local radio. By mid-morning the peak was covered in a dark cloud of volcanic material rising several kilometers (miles) above the crater. The government's seismology institute on Monday raised a five-step volcano alert over Mayon at the next-highest level of 4, meaning an eruption could occur within days. It began abnormal activity in February, and started emitting small lava flows on July 15. Materials thrown from the crater of the 8,070-foot (2,460-meter) mountain could threaten anyone within an eight-kilometer (five-mile) radius, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said in an advisory. It advised local officials in the central province of Albay to order the evacuation of 28 areas around the mountain, including parts of Legaspi city and the towns of Camalig, Daraga, Ligao, Malilipot, Santo Domingo and Tabaco. "Areas just outside of these (villages) should prepare for evacuation in the event explosive eruptions intensify," it said. Mayor Rosal said government vehicles are rounding up residents of the farming hamlets of Mabinit, Bonga, Matanag and Buyuan. "We are just waiting for them to gather some of their things before we take them to the major evacuation centers," he said. Evacuations were also underway in the other threatened villages. The mayor said the mild lava eruption last month "gave us ample lead time to prepare the evacuation centers", mostly schools and other government buildings beyond the volcano danger zone. They were stocked with food and sleeping facilities while tap water and electricity connections were provided. Asked if any residents were refusing to leave, Rosal said: "Some are reluctant to leave." Mayon has had 47 eruptions in recorded history, the latest being a mild outpouring of lava in June 2001. The volcano with a near-perfect cone buried the town of Cagsawa in the 19th century, killing an estimated 1,000 people. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links A world of storm and tempest Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters When the Earth Quakes A world of storm and tempest
'God of rain' kills 77 in China
Beijing, Aug 6, 2006 Tropical storm Prapiroon swept across south China, leaving a trail of destruction with 77 people reported dead as of late Sunday. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
