Philippines’ volcano spews ash, could erupt

[Ndrangeta_one 0]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33851916/ns/wo...ws-asiapacific/

MANILA, Philippines - The cone-shaped Mayon volcano in the central Philippines, which killed scores in an eruption 16 years ago, shot up an ash plume Wednesday — prompting hundreds of nearby residents to evacuate in case it blows again.

Chief state volcanologist Renato Solidum said the alert level remains the same at Mayon, the country's most active volcano, but that if magma continues to rise below the glowing crater there could be another eruption within weeks.

In Daraga township south of the volcano's crater, Mayor Cicero Triunfante ordered the early evacuation of more than 800 residents in the villages of Matnog and Banadero on fears that it might be in the path of superheated volcanic debris called pyroclastic flow.

Elsewhere, officials distributed wireless public address systems to more than 700 village and town officials to help them make emergency evacuation announcements if necessary, said provincial disaster officer Cedric Daep.

He said mass evacuations would be ordered once the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raises the alert to the next higher level. About 30,000 people were evacuated when it last erupted in 2006.

Officials repeated warnings over radio stations early Wednesday against mountain climbing, gathering orchids, farming and other "human activities" on the slopes of the 8,070-foot volcano, Daep said.

Resident volcanologist Ed Laguerta said ground measurements showed that the upper slopes of Mayon were slightly inflated, indicating the presence of rising magma, and that minor ash explosions are to be expected. Hourly measurements were being taken, he added.

Two explosions early Wednesday sent ash and rocks more than half a mile into the air. A thin layer of ash fell on the nearby towns of Camalig, Guinobatan and Ligao on Mayon's southwestern foothills.

Mayon's most violent eruption, in 1814, killed more than 1,200 people and buried a town in mud. A 1993 eruption killed 79 people.

Typhoon-triggered mudslides near the mountain in 2006 buried entire villages, killing more than 1,000 people.

The Philippines is in the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where volcanic activity and earthquakes are common.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The Philippines is in the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where volcanic activity and earthquakes are common.

Worse. Like Hawaii, the Philippines straddles not just one, but several "hot spots".

And add that to all the rest of the seismic hazards, the Philippines, like California, is just not a very safe place to live.

[calico1 1]

With 300 active volcanoes in Phili..the country theme song should be Aerosmith's "were livin on the edge"

[Jasman0717 9]

Its the land of volcanos. The Pinatubo eruption in 1991 wiped out part of Clark Air Force base and the US never returned anyone to the base after that.

[Scott and Mhay 57]

Yep and i am mad that Clark isnt open anymore. I was just a little too young to have been in the military to have experienced the philippines. I did read that the eruption wasnt as bad as it was made out to be....just the locals stole a lot off the base. It was an easy out for the US after the eruption. If it wouldnt have erupted...who knows maybe we would still be there?? That would be awesome, then i wouldnt have to worry about the immigration process or being apart from my wife while waiting.

[Scott and Mhay 57]

Yep and i am mad that Clark isnt open anymore. I was just a little too young to have been in the military to have experienced the philippines. I did read that the eruption wasnt as bad as it was made out to be....just the locals stole a lot off the base. It was an easy out for the US after the eruption. If it wouldnt have erupted...who knows maybe we would still be there?? That would be awesome, then i wouldnt have to worry about the immigration process or being apart from my wife while waiting.

[Jasman0717 9]

Yep and i am mad that Clark isnt open anymore. I was just a little too young to have been in the military to have experienced the philippines. I did read that the eruption wasnt as bad as it was made out to be....just the locals stole a lot off the base. It was an easy out for the US after the eruption. If it wouldnt have erupted...who knows maybe we would still be there?? That would be awesome, then i wouldnt have to worry about the immigration process or being apart from my wife while waiting.

My sister spent 3 years on the Philippines back in the mid 50s, her husband was stationed at Clark. I had always wanted to go there based on the stories she used to tell. Now a part of that history is partially covered in ash and lava.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Yep and i am mad that Clark isnt open anymore. I was just a little too young to have been in the military to have experienced the philippines. I did read that the eruption wasnt as bad as it was made out to be....just the locals stole a lot off the base. It was an easy out for the US after the eruption. If it wouldnt have erupted...who knows maybe we would still be there?? That would be awesome, then i wouldnt have to worry about the immigration process or being apart from my wife while waiting.

My sister spent 3 years on the Philippines back in the mid 50s, her husband was stationed at Clark. I had always wanted to go there based on the stories she used to tell. Now a part of that history is partially covered in ash and lava.

And Madame President's personal bunker, where she goes to hide at the least hint of trouble, close to the Duty Free Shopping Center.