Alert level raised after Philippine volcano erupts

14/07/2006 - 13:50:28
A volcano just south-east of the Philippine capital of Manila erupted today, a day after ejecting ash, the Philippines’ chief volcanologist said.

Renato Solidum, chief of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said he had ordered the raising of the alert level around Mayon Volcano after observers saw “lava trickles” flowing down the slopes of the 8,118ft volcano at about 6pm (11am Irish time) local time today.

“A hazardous eruption is possible,” he said. “We don’t know when, maybe within weeks. It is a quiet eruption as of now.”