Mayon erupts

THE Mayon volcano erupted yesterday, a day after ejecting ash amid swarms of earthquakes, the Philippines’ chief volcanologist said.

“It is a quiet eruption as of now,” said Renato Solidum, chief of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, who ordered the alert level to be raised after observers saw “lava trickles” flowing down the slopes of the 8,118-foot volcano.

“A hazardous eruption is possible. We don’t know when, maybe within weeks,” Solidum said, adding that scientists had expected lava flows after ash shot out of the volcano on Thursday, and earthquakes were recorded for two days. There was no word on evacuations.