Philippine volcano Mount Mayon in deadly eruption

[Tab]

Source: BBC

Mount Mayon, 330km (206 miles) south-east of the capital Manila, sent a cloud of ash and rocks into the sky early on Tuesday.

The ash blast caught a group climbing the mountain, which is famous for its near-perfect cone.

At least seven other climbers were hurt in the eruption, which lasted for just over a minute.

"Five killed and seven are injured, that is the latest report," National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chief Eduardo del Rosario said.

Four of those killed were German nationals and the fifth was their Filipino guide, the NDRRMC said later in a statement.

A guide on the mountain told a local television station by telephone that those who died were hit by the rocks that rained down on them after the ash blast.

Local reports said about 20 people were climbing the mountain when the eruption occurred.

"It was so sudden that many of us panicked," Jun Marana, a local resident, told AFP news agency by telephone. "When we stepped out we saw this huge column against the blue sky."

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22430378

[Douglas Carpenter]

1. back in 94 I was there in Legaspi, Albay Province, Bicol - that perfect cone shaped volcano with

smoke almost constantly rising out of it - was quite a site to behold. I was struck with how much the local Bicolanos actually revered the volcano and felt a kind of affection for it.

[JustAnotherGen]

2. Why are they hiking

That close up to an active volcano? I was just at Arenal in Costa Rica two weeks ago and there are strict limitations on how close one can climb.

[DCBob]

3. Its a big tourist attraction that generates income for the locals.

and hikers are willing to take the gamble. The odds are pretty good though most will survive.

[DCBob]

4. Also, apparently there were no warnings.

Normally there are warning signs like quakes and smoke prior to an eruption. If that happens then they usually close the trails and move locals away from the area.

[JustAnotherGen]

5. Ahhh

So they probably don't regulate it like Costa Rica does.

I guess some folks were arrested two days before our hike for going up on the wrong side of the mountain and waaaay too close.

Anyway - I'm now considering myself a Volcano chaser. They are cool as shit to be so close to.

[DCBob]

6. Ive hiked a couple of volcanoes in the Philippines.

Arayat (extinct) and Taal (active). Never did Mayon but would love to try... when they arent bolders flying through the air of course.

[Sunlei]

7. I would love to go see. But there is a constant warning not to go within 4miles.