Residents near Mayon slopes prepare to evacuate

LAVA GLOW In this photo taken on Thursday, incandescent lava cascades from Mayon Volcano’s summit crater under a star-filled sky as the volcano remains under alert level 3. Authorities continueto enforce the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone amid heightened volcanic activity. —MARK ALVIC ESPLANA

LEGAZPI CITY—Residents living near the slopes of Mayon Volcano in Sto. Domingo, Albay, are asking to be voluntarily evacuated after a strong sulfur dioxide (SO2) odor and intensified rumbling heightened fears over the volcano’s escalating unrest.

Mylene Masarate, 42, of Barangay Sta. Misericordia, said her family was particularly worried about the health of their 4-year-old child. Their home is about 7 kilometers from the volcano.

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“Honestly, we really want to evacuate now because we are worried. Even early this morning, the sulfur smell was very strong. It’s frightening, especially at night, when we can hear the rumbling becoming so loud,” Masarate said in a phone interview on Friday.FEATURED STORIES