Philippines volcano: lava erupts from Mount Mayon as ash covers towns

Lava is spilling from a Philippine volcano that has been sending up columns of ash over farmland and towns, coating them in grey during a nearly two-week eruption.

More than 74,000 people are staying in dozens of emergency shelters after fleeing the danger zone around Mount Mayon. Officials are worried the eruption may last months, disrupting the lives and livelihoods of people in its shadow.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said on Friday that lava eruptions had been intense but sporadic over the previous 24 hours. It measured ash plumes rising up to 5km (three miles) and detected 15 volcanic earthquakes as well as emissions of sulphur dioxide.

GPS and other measurements from instruments installed around the volcano also continued to indicate a swelling of the mountain surface, consistent with magma rising and creating pressure. The lava coming out may be relieving that pressure, scientists said.

“It just means that the pressure is being relieved for the moment and then it builds up again,” said Paul Alanis, research specialist at the volcano institute.

The alert level for Mayon remained at four on a scale of five, indicating a violent eruption may be imminent.

No injuries had been reported but law enforcement struggled to keep people out of the danger zone within 8km of the crater.