20,000 flee RP volcano

20,000 flee RP volcano

MANILA (AFP): About 20,000 people living around Mayon volcano in the eastern Philippines have been evacuated to safer areas amid signs of a looming eruption, state television reported on Thursday.

The government carried out the evacuation on the recommendation of government volcanologists, PTV-4 reported quoting Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

It said Ermita visited the area on Wednesday and reported the evacuation to the presidential palace, which earlier released about five million pesos (US$102,000) in initial emergency fund.

Emilia Tadeo, an official at the National Disaster Coordinating Council, said a six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone has been "totally vacated".