Alert level at Mayon raised

LEGAZPI CITY — The alert level around Mayon Volcano was raised last night after lava fountaining took place at about 7:09 p.m., prompting provincial disaster management officials to order the evacuation of villagers within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone.

The lava fountaining was characterized by the upward discharge of incandescent volcanic materials and a big volume of lava down the Bonga Gully.

Cedric Daep, Albay’s disaster management chief, in a radio broadcast, ordered residents of Barangays Matanag, Mabinit, Boyoan and Bonga this city and Miisi in Daraga town, to evacuate.

Despite the continuous lava flow in the past days, volcanologists were waiting for lava fountaining, among other factors, to raise the alert level three to four, of a maximum five.

Earlier yesterday, lava cascaded down the V-shaped opening at Mayon’s summit, reaching some 3.4 kilometers below.

Propelled by continuous outflow of voluminous magma, the lava reached the 600-meter elevation, generating rockfalls. It flowed down toward the direction of Barangay Mabinit, one of four villages at the foot of the volcano. — Celso Amo, Cet Dematera