The Philippines' most active volcano shot higher ash columns and rumbled louder today as authorities warned of a potential hazardous eruption in Mount Mayon anytime.
Mayon Volcano has been spewing ash and burning mud and rocks for more than a week.
Officials have evacuated nearly 50,000 residents from around the base of the volcano.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today flew to Albay province where Mayon Volcano is located to inspect the government's disaster plan.
Authorities said they monitored distinct indicators of a hazardous eruption, such as continuous lava flows, rumbling sounds and ash explosions coupled with sulphuric dioxide emission from the volcano.
"We can't exactly predict when the big bang will come, but the volcanic activities are getting more intense from the time we raised the alert level to 4 on Sunday," the state's chief vulcanologist, Renato Solidum, said, adding stronger tremors were felt today and gas emissions were increasing.
"We're ready to raise the alert to the highest level if we start to see a hazardous eruption, characterised by taller ash columns, extensive ashfalls and pyroclastic materials racing down on the slopes."
Level 4 indicates an eruption is imminent and the maximum alert level 5 means a dangerous eruption is underway.
Reuters