Philippines evacuates 3,000 villagers after volcano activity raises alert level

The Philippines has evacuated nearly 3,000 villagers in a permanent danger zone on the foothills of the Mayon Volcano after officials raised the alert level due to recent activity. Authorities raised the 5-step alert around the volcano in the northeastern province of Albay to level 3 on Tuesday after detecting intermittent rockfalls from its peak crater in recent days, prompting the initial evacuations. Chief volcanologist Teresito Bacolcol said it is too early to tell if Mayon’s restiveness would lead to a major and violent eruption given the absence of other key indicators, like a spike in volcanic earthquakes.