In response to Emilie Michael’s reply to my letter of December 14. I thank her for acknowledging that my statements were factual.

Villagers returned to their homes today along the fertile slopes of an Indonesian volcano that spewed hot ash and smoke after lying dormant for more than four centuries – catching scientists off guard.

Miguel Syjuco

The Philippines’ most active volcano could have a huge eruption within days, officials warned today after detecting a drastic surge in earthquakes and eerie rumbling sounds in surrounding foothills. Tens of thousands of villagers have been evacuated as a precaution.

Thousands of Filipinos fled villages near Mount Pinatubo today as workers prepared to breach the volcano’s crater to drain a lake that could unleash mass floods on the area.