Volcano Experts Fear Major Eruption Soon in Philippines

More than 20,00 people have been evacuated from around Mayon's danger zones, Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales told reporters after meetings with local officials in Albay province. Vulcanologists recorded at least five minor explosions on Wednesday from Mayon volcano, famed for its near-perfect cone shape in a coconut-growing region of the central Philippines. 

It spewed burning mud and rocks for a third day.

Nearly 80 high frequency quakes were recorded around the volcano in the last 24 hours. Officials raised Mayon's alert to level 3 on Monday, meaning sudden hazardous explosions were likely.

"We're keeping the alert level but we're observing increased activity in the volcano," Renato Solidum, head of the Philippine Institute for Volcanolgy and Seismology (Phivolcs), told Reuters after an aerial inspection around Mayon.

Solidum said lava had rolled down about 1 km from the summit while burning rocks have started detaching from the crater summit, generating ashfalls in two towns near Mayon's slope. Solidum advised people in three cities and five towns near the base of the volcano to cover their noses and mouth with masks or wet cloths to prevent inhaling ash from the volcano.