 One of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines spewed a massive column of ash about two kilometres into the sky yesterday, sending residents of surrounding areas fleeing for cover, radio reports said. It was the latest in a series of ash explosions that have raised fears that 1,565-metre high Mount Bulusan, on the southern tip of Luzon island, might be ready to erupt. Radio reports from the scene said a loud explosion had been heard from the crater and that the falling ash had turned vegetation, houses and even cattle around the volcano, white. However there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. About 40 families living on the slopes of Bulusan will begin evacuation to safer areas this week, local government officials said yesterday. |