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By APD writer Melo M. Acuna
MANILA, Jan. 14, (APD) - One of the Philippines’ 21 most active volcanoes, the 2,462 meter Mayon Volcano in Albay province sent hundreds of residents around its slopes to evacuation centers as it sent grayish plumes to an estimated height of 2.5 to three kilometers late Saturday afternoon.
PHIVOLCS Officer-In-Charge Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr. described the eruption which occurred ay 5:06 P.M., Saturday as phreatic in nature.
The grayish fine volcanic plumes were expected to fall towards the southwest direction in the villages of Camalig and Guinobatan towns, both in Albay Province fanned by winds from the northeast.
Evacuation is still going on in several villages of Guinobatan town and are expected to spend the night at two government-run schools.
As of 9:00 P.M., Saturday two evacuation centers in Camalig town accommodated over 400 persons.
Phreatic eruptions is also known as steam-blast eruption when magma heats ground or surface water.
Mayon volcano and its environs experienced heavy rains since the last week of December 2017.
No injuries and casualties have been reported so far.
In 1993, Mayon volcano suddenly had its pyroclastic flow towards a gully within Legazpi City which caused death and severe burn to some 70 farmers tending their farms in the famed tourist spot.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
