By Ranjan Bhaduri
Dec.15, (THAINDIAN NEWS) In a recent development that has made the scientists and geologists worried, a volcano in Philippine has started erupting lava and gaseous fumes resulting in evacuation of thousands of residents in vicinity. This Christmas will be a bleak one for the villagers as they may have to spend it in the evacuation centers, the authorities said. The 8,070-foot high Mayon Volcano started exploding ash and glowing lava fragments were spotted down its slopes on Monday. This created panic and the authorities decided to take the 50,000 people living near the mountain radius to safer places.

It is too early to say anything about the kind of damage the explosion and eruption can cause. However, the authorities do not want to take any chances with the count of casualty, that could otherwise happen. A number of army trucks were sent to the villages adjacent to the volcano, to evacuate the people living there. Things could be tough for kids who will have to spend Christmas amidst gloom and uncertainty. The seismology experts have not ruled out the possibility of an explosion preceded by incessant eruption.

Mayon is an active volcano and it erupted last time in 2006. That time it took the lives of 1000 people. It’s most fatal eruption took place in 1814 when a town got buried in mud and more than 1,400 people got killed. Another small scale eruption took place in 1993. Reportedly 79 people were killed in that single event. Going by these scary statistics, no wonder the authorities are being so skeptical and cautious. Since the Philippines is situated within Pacific “Ring of Fire”, it is prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic activities.