Thousands of villagers flee from erupting volcano in Philippines

The Mayon volcano is seen from behind an evacuation centre in Santo Domingo town, Albay province (Aaron Favila/AP)

Thousands of villagers have fled Philippine communities close to the erupting Mayon volcano, traumatised by the sight of red-hot lava flowing down its crater and fearful of sporadic blasts of ash.

Nearly 15,000 people have left the mostly poor farming communities within a 6km radius of Mayon’s crater in north-eastern Albay province in forced evacuations since volcanic activity spiked last week.