BALTIMORE, Maryland September 16, 2014 - Mount Mayon, an active volcano on the Philippine Island of Luzon, is nearing an eruption, with officials conducting forced evacuations of residents living within four miles of the crater, and those living within six miles currently being strongly urged to evacuate voluntarily. The official threat level of an eruption is "critical," according to the BBC.
The volcano has begun spewing lava and smoke, Philippine officials say. Scientists advise that an actual full eruption could happen "within weeks."
The worst recorded eruption of Mount Mayon occurred 200 years ago in 1814, when over 1,200 people were killed and several small towns were said to have been totally "devastated". In calm times the volcano is called one of the most picturesque volcanoes in the world, with its high perfectly circular crater in breathtaking silhouette against a tropical sky. Now, however, the crater is filled with lava that glowed bright Monday in the dead of night. Small earthquakes have been observed and rock slides on the mountain have also been noted.
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