Philippine volcano spews lava in eruption, villagers asked to brace to evacuate

The Philippines’ most active volcano has begun spewing lava in a gentle eruption, putting thousands of people on heightened alert for the possibility of a violent explosion that would force them to evacuate from their homes, authorities said Monday.
More than 12,000 villagers have abandoned their homes in mandatory evacuations thus far mostly from poor farming communities within a 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) radius of Mayon volcano’s crater in northeastern Albay province. Those evacuations began after the volcano begun showing signs of renewed restlessness last week.
But thousands more remain within the permanent danger zone below Mayon, which has long been declared as off limits to people.