A major eruption of Mayon volcano in the Philippines

An explosive eruption of the most active volcano in the Philippines, the Mayon, could occur within days, warned on Sunday. More than 40,000 villagers have been evacuated as a precaution.
Scientists have sounded the alarm before the sharp acceleration of earthquakes associated with volcanic activity, which increased from just over 200 Saturday to 453 in the space of five hours Sunday, according to Renato Solidum, head Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

The alert level was raised in four out of five, which means that hazardous eruption is "possible in a few days." The five level scale means a major eruption began.

The army and police should step up their patrols to check the prohibition of entering a danger zone around the volcano, which rises to 2460 meters, according to Joey Salceda, governor of Albay province, about 340km south-east the Philippine capital Manila.

More than 40,000 villagers have been evacuated to schools and emergency shelters, but some have been identified in the prohibited area currently caring for their farms. Some 5,000 other villagers were being evacuated from near the volcano.

Mayon started spewing ash and lava. On Sunday, a column of ash nearly a mile rose above the crater and lava flow descended 4.5 kilometers on the flanks of the volcano, according to Joey Salceda.

A major eruption can trigger pyroclastic flows, volcanic gas mixture at high temperature and volcanic debris that can rush down the flanks of the volcano at high speed. Projections of extensive ash may also occur.

In previous major eruption of Mayon in recent years, including pyroclastic flows have dropped to six kilometers from the crater on the southern flank, an agricultural area where most residents have been evacuated by Mr. Salceda.