Thousands flee volcano in Philippines

Tuesday, 15, Dec 2009
By Mike Trudeau

Over 9,000 Filipino families may spend Christmas in evacuation centres after fleeing the restless Mayon volcano.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised Mayon's alert level from two to three on Monday, after recording multiple volcanic earthquakes, explosions of ash and lava trickles from its summit.

According to Cedric Daep, chief of the Albay public safety and emergency management office, a total of 47,285 residents or 9,946 families from 56 villages around the volcano will have to evacuate their homes in case a more violent eruption follows.

All houses within an 8km radius of the volcano will be evacuated, and classes at all schools within the zone have been cancelled. Pupils will attend classes in evacuation schools, as the period of evacuation could last up to three months. the rest