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Thousands evacuated in Philippines as volcano spews ash, toxic gases, rocks
- People are leaving their homes due to red-hot rocks falling from Mount Mayon in central province of Albay, hitting areas up to two kilometres away
- There is also a health risk ‘because of inhaling sulphur dioxide gas or particulate matter of ashfalls’; farm animals are being moved away too
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Thousands of people living near a Philippine volcano have taken shelter in evacuation centres as officials warned on Sunday of health risks from ash and toxic gases spewing from the rumbling crater.
Seismology researchers said they had recorded at least one volcanic earthquake in the past 24 hours and red-hot rocks were falling from Mount Mayon in the central province of Albay.
More than 12,800 people have been moved to evacuation centres, the Philippine civil defence office said, most from farming villages at or near the foot of the volcano.
Thousands more may still need to be relocated to shelters, usually schools and other public buildings, officials said.
There is a health risk while being close to the eruption “because of inhaling sulphur dioxide gas or the particulate matter of ashfalls”, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa told a press briefing.
Mayon, about 330km (205 miles) southeast of the capital Manila, is considered one of the most volatile of the country’s 24 active volcanoes.
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