Evening star., 1947-01-12
z Towns Evacuated
To Escape Lava From
Philippine Volcano
BY the Assoeio.ed Press

MANILA, Sunday, Jan. 1.-TWO
towns at the foot of fiery Mayon
volcano were evacuated today as
the erupting giant sent streams Of
molten lava down its slopes, press
reports from the scene said.
Government agencies and the Red
Cross were alerted to stand by in
event of violent eruption, although
an aide of President Roxas said
there was mo cause for alarm"
barring Unforeseen developments. !"
The populations of the fishing
town of Libog, six miles east OF the
summit, and Camalig, about the
same distance south OF the glowing
peak, were ordered to leave.
Streams of persons moved along
the highways, their household goods
| piled atop oxcarts, said reports from
nearby Legaspi, principal city of
the area.
Peasant Fearful Of Eruption.
A Manila Times correspondent
quoted one of the evacuees, peasant,
as saying: When Mayon makes
noise and acts ugly. he's just trying
to scare us. But this time it looks
like the one father spoke about"
He referred to the 1896 eruption
which killed several hundred Fill
pinos.
Smoke from the great volcano,
which dominates the southern
Luzon plain 200 miles, southeast of
Manila, spread in sulphurous
cloud over $4,000 square miles of the
area and adjacent islands, late re-
ports said.
Dorman for Five Years.
The mountain, dormant for five
years, came to life Wednesday when
smoke began pouring from near the
summit. Next day lava was seen
streaming down the southeast side
of the mountain.
Yesterday, James Halsema, Asso-
ciated Press correspondent on fly
ing mission over the volcano, said
the lava appeared to be flowing out
in all directions from Mayor.
It's almost-perfect cone, towering
8,274 feet above the sea, remained
intact, with the lava rolling down
from fissures on all sides. There is
no crater such as most volcanoes
have. Army and Navy observers, who
flew as close as possible to the fiery
spectacle, said this was potential
danger, for sufficient pressure inside
might blow the top off.
Experts Sent to Scene.
Mr.. HalSema said no one was
prepared to predict such an occur
renee, but lava already had flowed
at least four miles down the sides.
Pink and gray smoke spread for a
distance of 100 miles.
President Roxas sent Weather
Bureau volcanologists to the scene
after appeals from neighboring
communities for expert advice on
the extent of the danger.
The fishing and hemp port of
Libog on Albay Gulf was in the path
VI OllC SOi Colll VI ldFd Uut Illc IlOW
still was several miles distant.
The port of Legaspi, ruined by
bombardment of the United States
7th Fleet prior to landing of the
158th Regimental Combat Team in
April, 1945, also was in the danger
zone.
Violent Throughout History.
Mayon, also known as Mount Al
bay, has been violent throughout
recorded history.
In 1923 it put on a remarkable
show, putting up gases which ex-
ploded 10 miles in the air. In the
10th century there were % recorded
eruptions, including one in 1914
which destroyed several surrounding
towns.
An object of suparstitions awe
among early natives, the volcano is
credited with Outstanding the
neighborhood. Local legend says that
two monks in 1892 undertook to
scale the mountain and disprove the
natives fears. One died in the at
tempt and the other died shortly
after his return but lived long
enough to convert many of the deep
ly-impressed population.