Mayon volcano in the Philippines rumbles back to life on January 13 and spewes ash plume around 2,500 metres high. (Photo: AFP/VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – More than 900 families havebeen evacuated from areas near Mayon Volcano in the central province of Albay,the Philippines as the volcano continues ejecting ash into the air.The mandatory evacuation of 919 households was ordered bylocal authorities due to the abnormal activities of Mayon, said RominaMarasigan, spokesperson of the country’s National Disaster Risk Reduction andManagement Council.According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology andSeismology (Philvolcs), the volcano rumbled back to life on January 13 and theinstitute recorded two eruptions on the morning of January 14, spewing ashplume around 2,500 metres high.The Mayon, 2,460 metres in height and 20 kilometres inwidth, is one of the Philippines’s active volcanoes famous for its beauty andnear-perfect symmetry.It has erupted 51 times during the past 400 … [Read more...] about Philippines evacuates over 900 families under volcano eruption risk
Philippines
12,000 flee as Philippines warns of volcano eruption
LEGAZPI, Philippines: The crater of a rumbling Philippine volcano was glowing bright red Monday, with vulcanologists warning it could erupt within days, sending thousands fleeing from their homes. 12,000 people have left their homes after scientists warned that the perfect cone of Mayon could erupt in the coming hours or days AFP/Simvale SAYAT Volcanic earthquakes and rockfalls have shaken the summit of Mayon over the last 24 hours, after a number of steam-driven eruptions, scientists said. More than 12,000 people have been ordered to leave a seven-kilometre evacuation zone, and there are warnings of destructive mudflows and toxic clouds. "It is dangerous for families to stay in that radius and inhale ash," Claudio Yucot, head of the region's office of civil defence, told AFP. "Because of continuous rains in past weeks, debris deposited in the slopes of Mayon could lead to lahar flows. If rain does not stop it could be hazardous." Lahar is the … [Read more...] about 12,000 flee as Philippines warns of volcano eruption
Philippines’ Mayon volcano alert raised as eruption feared
MANILA — The Philippines raised the alert level for the country’s most active volcano twice in 24 hours on Sunday, meaning that a hazardous eruption is possible within days. A bright glow from Mayon volcano’s summit crater indicated the start of lava flow, while steam and ash plumes were produced by three steam-driven eruptions, according to the country’s volcanology institute. Mayon’s status was raised late Sunday to Level Three, meaning "increased tendency towards hazardous eruption". "This means that Mayon is exhibiting relatively high unrest and that magma is at the crater and that hazardous eruption is possible within weeks or even days," the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in a statement. More than 900 families have been evacuated and temporarily sheltered at nearby schools, a national disaster agency spokesperson told the Manila Bulletin. A seven-kilometre (four-mile) extended danger zone has been … [Read more...] about Philippines’ Mayon volcano alert raised as eruption feared
Philippines raises volcano alert level
Residents were evacuated from two villages near the volcano, a tourist attraction in Albay province thanks to its near-perfect cone shape, following a "phreatic or steam-driven eruption". Mayon Volcano in the Philippines' central province of Albay (Photo: Reuters) January 13th’s eruption unleashed ash, rocks and sulfuric odor, and was followed by rumbling sounds and a faint glow in the crater, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. Phivolcs raised the alert to level two, which means that the current activity is "probably of magmatic origin, which could lead to more phreatic eruptions or eventually to hazardous magmatic eruptions." The public is strongly advised to be vigilant and desist from entering the six kilometre (3.7 mile) radius Permanent Danger Zone to minimize risks from sudden explosions, rockfalls and landslides, the institute said. Located about 300 km southeast of Manila, Mayon is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines. … [Read more...] about Philippines raises volcano alert level
SE Asia Stocks-Philippines falls over 1 pct; Vietnam hits fresh 10-year closing high
Philippine shares dropped over 1 percent on Thursday, underperforming other Southeast Asian stock markets, while Vietnam extended gains to a fresh 10-year closing high.The Philippine Stock Exchange PSEI Index declined as much as 2 percent, its biggest since March 2017, before closing 1.2 percent lower."The weakness on Wall Street could have been a catalyst for a profit-taking from the global rally seen across most regions," said Fio De Jesus, an equity research analyst with RCBC Securities in Manila.The three major U.S. stock indexes ended lower overnight after a choppy trading session as investors worried that China would slow U.S. government bond purchases and that U.S. President Donald Trump would end a key trade agreement.Asian shares ex-Japan also dropped due to concerns about rising U.S. protectionism, while bonds rebounded after China's regulator said a report about Beijing slowing or halting of its U.S. bond buying was possibly wrong.Losses were largely broad-based in the … [Read more...] about SE Asia Stocks-Philippines falls over 1 pct; Vietnam hits fresh 10-year closing high
Philippines to protest to China over apparent airbase on manmade island in the East Sea
The Philippines will make a diplomatic protest to China, which the Southeast Asian nation's defense minister described as having reneged on a promise not to militarize artificial islands in the busy East Sea waterway (known internationally as the South China Sea). The United States has criticized China's build-up of military facilities on the artificial islands and is concerned they could be used to restrict free movement along the key trade route. Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana's comment followed a Dec. 30 broadcast of aerial footage by the official China Central Television (CCTV) showing Fiery Cross Reef, which appeared to have been transformed into an airbase. "The Chinese government said some time ago that they were not going to militarize those reclaimed islands," Lorenzana told reporters, adding that the protest would be made through the foreign ministry. "If it is true and we can prove that they have been putting soldiers and even weapons systems, that will be a … [Read more...] about Philippines to protest to China over apparent airbase on manmade island in the East Sea
SE Asia Stocks-Philippines hits record high; Vietnam extends gains
Philippine shares jumped the most in a year on Tuesday, hitting a record high on foreign buying, while Vietnam climbed for a second straight session to a fresh ten-year high. Asian shares ex-Japan were nearly flat in afternoon trade, after paring gains and pulling away from the cusp of a record high. "Asian markets are driven by the return of Japanese investors from their holiday break. So, we can see buying from those sources," said Manny Cruz, an analyst at Asiasec Equities Inc in Manila. Philippine shares closed 2 percent up at a record high of 8,923.72, with foreign investors net buying equities worth 1.42 billion pesos ($28.22 million). Financials and industrial stocks accounted for more than half of the gains, with SM Prime Holdings Inc and International Container Terminal Services Inc closing up 3.4 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively. "Buying from foreign funds is heightened by the fact that recently President Rodrigo Duterte signed a tax reform program that would spur … [Read more...] about SE Asia Stocks-Philippines hits record high; Vietnam extends gains
Philippines foils attack of BIFF rebels in the south
Philippine soldiers patrol in southern Marawi city, Mindanao. (Photo: AFP/VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine military forcesfoiled an attack of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in the southernpart of the country on January 7.Some 50 BIFF rebels attacked Maitumaig, a remote villagein Datu Unsay town, Maguindanao province in southern Philippines on January 6,triggering a firefight that killed an army soldier and nine militants, saidArmy Captain Arvin Encinas. The government forces used aircraft and artillery tofight the BIFF until the rebels withdrew.The Philippine army has cooperated with the Moro IslamicLiberation Front (MILF) in stepping up operations against the BIFF since Augustlast year.The MILF signed a peace accord with the government in2014 while the BIFF, a MILF splinter group, opposed the pact. Like Aby Sayyafand Maute Group, the BIFF has also pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS)group.-VNA … [Read more...] about Philippines foils attack of BIFF rebels in the south
Philippines releases 37 Vietnamese fishermen
After releasing 85 Vietnamese fishermen who had been detained in the Philippine province of Palawan for illegal fishing, the provincial court yesterday set free the remaining 37. Vietnamese fishermen are given instructions by Filipino officers at the army barracks where they are staying while waiting for repatriation. The news was issued by the Vietnamese Embassy in the Philippines yesterday morning, after the court announced its order of release to these fishermen.Earlier on August 26, at the trial of 122 Vietnamese fishermen who had been detained in Palawan since May 30, the court decided to release 85 fishermen while maintaining its prosecution against the remaining 37 for “encroaching upon Philippines’ territorial waters” and “collecting and storing rare and precious seafood” according to the Philippine Penal Code. … [Read more...] about Philippines releases 37 Vietnamese fishermen
Philippines probes deaths suspected to be related to dengue vaccine
More than 800,000 school children received the vaccine last year in the world's first public dengue immunisation programme. (Source: Reuters)Hanoi (VNA) - The Philippines isinvestigating the deaths of 14 children which were suspected of being relatedto the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia, the use which was suspended by the government recently,the country’s health officials said on January 5. Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the government has assigned anindependent panel of experts to review the cases and expects their findings inone or two weeks.Assistant Health Secretary Enrique Domingo told reporters that the panel hasbeen asked to investigate the cause of the deaths and whether they are relatedto the vaccination. More than 800,000 school children received the vaccine last year in the world'sfirst public dengue immunisation programme.However, in November last year, Sanofi released findings of a new study thatsaid Dengvaxia could lead to severe infections for vaccinated people … [Read more...] about Philippines probes deaths suspected to be related to dengue vaccine