Mount Mayon spews lava during an eruption near Legazpi city in Albay province, south of Manila on June 11, 2023. (Photo by Charism Sayat / AFP) (Photo by CHARISM SAYAT/AFP via Getty Images) DARAGA, Philippines (AP) - 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 suddenly evacuate from their homes, authorities said Monday.More than 12,000 villagers have left their homes so far in mandatory evacuations from the mostly 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.Authorities cautioned that thousands more remain within the permanent danger zone below Mayon, which has long been declared off limits.Authorities in Albay, Philippines, said on Saturday, June 10, they were planning to evacuate 40,000 people living within the danger zone of the Mayon Volcano, as the formation continued showing signs of activity. (Credit: Arren Christian Ventura via Storyful)RELATED: Mexico City airports shut down due to spewing ash from Popocatepetl volcanoWith the volcano beginning to expel lava Sunday night, the high-risk zone around Mayon may be expanded should the eruption turn violent, said Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.