MANILA, Philippines, June 25 — About 50,000 people were forced to flee their homes yesterday at the foot of Mount Mayon one of the country's most active volcanoes.
Volcano Erupts in Legazpi
The 2,500 metre volcano erupted June 24, spewing rocks, lava and flaming ash up from the crater. Steam flew seven kilometres in to the air panicking residents. Evacuation centres were set up ten kilometres away in Legazpi, the provincial capital, where thousands of people are still sheltering.
700 families got Scriptures and other relief materials from The Philippine Bible Society. Thousands more families have arrived in Legazpi today, fleeing the volcano after more violent explosions late last night. Volcanologists predict that more explosions will follow in the next few days.
Mayon volcano has a violent history, it killed 1,200 people and buried an entire town in volcanic mud in 1814. It last erupted in February 1993, killing at least 70 people.
Killer Typhoon Strikes
A second disaster hit on July 5th. Typhoon Utor ravaged the northern Philippines with winds up to 170 km/h. Heavy rains triggered widespread flooding and landslides. The death toll has now risen to 121 with 130 injured and 44 people missing, civil defence officials confirmed on Sunday.
In co-operation with Philrads, a non-governmental organisation, the Philippine Bible Society distributed Scripture Comics and other goods to victims sheltering in rescue centres in a town in the province of Pangasinan.
Source: United Bible Societies
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