Philippine Mayon volcano erupts

MANILA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- A very active Philippine volcano called Mt. Mayon erupted on Saturday, the country's volcano institute said.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivocls) said in a tweet that the phreatic eruption took place at 5:06 p.m. local time.

Phreatic eruptions are steam-driven explosions that occur when water beneath the ground or on the surface is heated by magma, lava, hot rocks or new volcanic deposits.

The institute said the volcano spewed a 2,500-meter greyish ash that fell on the southwest region of Mt. Mayon.

No damage has been reported so far.

In an early advisory on Saturday, the institute said it did not deter any volcanic earthquake during the past 24 hours.

"Moderate to voluminous emission of white steam-laden plumes that drifted southwest, northwest, north-northeast, and west-southwest was observed," the advisory read.

The institute said alert level 1 remains in effect over Mayon Volcano, meaning that it is at abnormal condition."

"Although this means that presently no magmatic eruption is imminent, it is strongly advised that the public refrain from entering the 6-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) due to the perennial life-threatening dangers of rockfalls, landslides or avalanches at the middle to upper slope, sudden ash puffs and steam-driven or phreatic eruptions from the summit," the institute said.

It warned people to avoid "active stream or river channels and those identified as perennially lahar-prone areas on all sectors of the volcano" especially when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall.

Mt. Mayon, one of the Philippines most active volcanos famous for its beauty and near-perfect symmetry, is located in Albay province about 300 km southeast of the Philippines capital Manila. It has an elevation of 2,462 meters.

In an eruption in 1814, more than 1,200 people were killed and three towns were buried under mud and rock. Enditem