Volatile Volcanoes Are Waking Up
Bardarbunga, Iceland The lava flows on the the ground after the Bardabunga volcano erupted again on August 31, 2014. Scientists estimate the fissure to be at least 1.5 kilometres long. The lava is estimated to be six to eight metres thick and flowing at a rate of about 1,000 cubic metres per second. Iceland cut its ash warning level for aviation to orange from red on Sunday, saying a fresh fissure eruption in Iceland's Bardarbunga volcano system was not creating ash. Iceland's largest volcanic system, which cuts a 190 km long and up to 25 km wide (118 miles by 15.5 miles) swathe across the North Atlantic island, has been hit by thousands of earthquakes over the last two weeks and scientists have been on high alert. ? REUTERS/Armann?Hoskuldsson?

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised to critical the alert level at Mayon Volcano which started to billow smoke and spew lava and hot bouders. The volcano is actually erupting already but not at an explosive level, said seismologists.

Renato Solidum, head of the agency, said that magma is gathering at the volcano's crater and this could result to a major eruption within weeks. He said lava is starting to come down its slopes, but an explosion would threaten all sides of the volcano noted for its perfect cone.

The lava flow could be seen as far as 12 kilometres away from 2,640-metre high Mayon, which has erupted 50 times in the past five centuries. The most powerful eruption was in 1814 when it killed over 1,200 residents and destroyed several nearby towns.

The local government has forcibly evacuated around 24,000 residents from the volcano's 8-kilometre permanent danger zone. Some families are hesitant to leave their homes and means of livelihood because of the congestion in the temporary evacuation centres.

Reports of an impending eruption has boosted tourism even if the provincial government of Albay is not promoting the event because of the danger it poses.

The Philippines is in the Pacific Rim of fire and has several active volcanoes, including Mount Pinatubo in Pampanga which erupted in July 1991 and affected global temperature.

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