Mayon volcano spews more lava

Mayon volcano spews more lava

MANILA (AP): Lava flowed 1.5 kilometers down the side of one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines on Thursday, but scientists don't believe it's about to erupt.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology met to discuss whether to raise its public alert about a possible eruption from the current level of three on a five-point scale.

Level three means an eruption could occur within weeks. Level four indicates that an eruption is expected within days, and level five means a hazardous eruption is in progress.

Institute Director Raymundo Punongbayan said scientists are waiting for two other "ingredients" - lava fountaining and explosions or ash puffs - before raising the alert to level four.

He said high readings of tremors and sulfur dioxide emissions, plus lava flows, are still "not enough" to indicate an imminent eruption.