By AP, Ellalyn V. Ruiz, and Aaron B. Recuenco
LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – Lava flowing out of Mayon Volcano has spread up to 3.6 kilometers since it began intense eruptions more than two weeks ago.
Streaks of red glowed atop the summit of Mount Mayon during a mild eruption yesterday morning as the moon set, hours after a blue moon and super moon coincided with a lunar eclipse.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said lava fountains and emissions of gas and ash have been sporadic. The eruptions fed lava flows in two areas that already exceed three kilometers.
The danger zone around Mayon extends eight kilometers, though authorities have struggled to keep residents from returning to check on their homes and farms and tourists from trying to photograph the volcano’s dramatic displays.
Mayon in northeastern Albay has been erupting for more than two weeks, forcing more than 84,000 villagers to flee to crowded emergency shelters. Scientists fear a more violent eruption could be imminent.
Mayon belched out enormous plumes of gray ash reaching about 1,000 meters from the summit at least five times Wednesday.
Phivolcs said Mayon propelled low white to light gray ash plumes except for five events where the volcano produced 1,000-meter tall gray ash plumes between 8:13 a.m. and 11:56 a.m. and at 6:01 p.m. and 9:37 p.m. last Wednesday.
Four episodes of lava collapse leading to pyroclastic flow into Miisi, Basud, and Binga Gullies occurred between 9:53 a.m. and 5:50 p.m.
A series of loud booming sounds between 10:55 a.m. and 12:26 p.m. were heard as far as 10 kilometers. It was followed by bursts of steam-laden plumes from the volcano’s summit.
Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Francis Tolentino, the designated liaison officer of Malacanang for Mayon evacuees, said the government has started implementing cash-for-work programs for farmers and other heads of the families who were rendered jobless due to Mayon.
Among those was 50-year-old farmer Allan Rodriguez who has been jobless for almost a month since they were forced to evacuate on Jan. 15 due to Mayon.
He could not go back to Barangay Lidong in Santo Domingo, Albay since their community is a major outlet of lahar from the volcano and even if he goes back and even if he wants to, his family would not allow him out of fear and insisted that they stay at the Bical National High School in Barangay Salvacion also in Santo Domingo.
“They have regular distribution of relief good and we may be accused of being choosy but just imagine what it is like if we eat just sardines and noodles at the span of our stay here,” said Rodriguez.