Lava Flow from Mayon Volcano Forces Residents to Evacuate

Following the eruption of lava from the Mayon Volcano in the Philippines, many residents in the area attempted to leave the danger zone on Tuesday, June 13. The sight of lava flowing from the volcano's crater and its sporadic eruptions has instilled fear among local residents. According to the Associated Press, since the Mayon Volcano began its activity last week, nearly 15,000 people have evacuated areas within 6 kilometers of the volcano's crater in northeastern Albay province. The residents of this area are primarily poor farmers. Military trucks are evacuating villagers from the danger zone around the Mayon Volcano. On June 13, the Albay governor added another kilometer to the danger zones and urged thousands of residents to be ready for evacuation at any moment. Although many decided to flee even before the mandatory evacuation order was issued. The smoke and lava from the Mayon Volcano have caused panic among the villagers in the area. The director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology stated that a gray plume that reached 100 meters in height on Tuesday morning was blown by the wind towards some villages to the southeast. The Mayon Volcano, standing at 2,462 meters, is considered one of the tourist attractions in the Philippines due to its beautiful conical shape, although it is the most active volcano among the 24 known volcanoes in the archipelago. The last major eruption of this volcano occurred in 2018, displacing tens of thousands of people. Over two centuries ago, in 1814, the eruption of Mayon killed more than a thousand people and buried entire villages under lava and ash.