MANILA: The Mayon volcano on the island of Luzon continued to spew lava and ash after forcing more than 85,000 people to flee their homes in the two weeks since it began to display signs of unrest.
Most of the affected population are now staying in emergency shelters, mainly schools turned into evacuation centers.
State volcanologists are keeping a close watch on the volcano’s activity, which shows no sign of stopping 13 days after it began to spew ash. The volcano is located in Albay province, south of the Philippines’ capital of Manila.
An alert level four remains hoisted over Mayon, which means a hazardous eruption is imminent.
The Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology said it had recorded six lava fountains at Mayon yesterday. The fountains reached 400 meters to 500 meters in height and generated ash plumes that soared five kilometers above the crater.
Despite the risks, some villagers are returning to their homes within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone to check on animals and crops. No casualties have been reported from the eruption.
Damage to agriculture, fisheries and livestock has been estimated at more than $2 million.
The volcano’s activity has also forced the cancelation of several domestic and international flights to nearby Naga and Legazpi cities.
As as the eruption draws more local and foreign tourists, authorities repeated their appeal to the public to stay clear of the danger zone and observe safety precautions.
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Volcano forces 85,000 Filipinos to flee their homes
Volcano forces 85,000 Filipinos to flee their homes
Venezuelan lawmaker says 379 political prisoners granted amnesty
- Venezuela’s National Assembly unanimously adopted the law on Thursday, providing hope that hundreds of political prisoners behind bars may soon be released
CARACAS: Venezuelan authorities granted amnesty to 379 political prisoners, a lawmaker overseeing the process said on Friday, after a new mass amnesty law was enacted following the ouster of former leader Nicolas Maduro.
Venezuela’s National Assembly unanimously adopted the law on Thursday, providing hope that hundreds of political prisoners behind bars may soon be released.
National Assembly deputy Jorge Arreaza said in a televised interview on Friday that a total of 379 people “must be released, granted amnesty, between tonight and tomorrow morning.”
“Requests have been submitted by the Public Prosecutor’s Office to the competent courts to grant amnesty measures,” he said.
Many relatives of prisoners across Venezuela have waited outside jails for weeks for the potential release of their loved ones.
Hundreds have already been granted conditional release by Interim President Delcy Rodriguez’s government since the deadly US raid that seized Maduro.
The NGO Foro Penal had said before the announcement that some 650 were detained, a toll that has not been updated since.
Foro Penal director Alfredo Romero said Friday that receiving “amnesty is not automatic,” but would require a process in the courts, viewed by many as an arm of Maduro’s repression.
Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Venezuelans have been jailed in recent years over plots, real or imagined, to overthrow Maduro’s government.
Rodriguez was formerly Maduro’s vice president and took his place as the South American country’s leader with the consent of US President Donald Trump, provided that she toe Washington’s line.
The United States has taken over control of Venezuela’s oil sales, with Trump vowing a share for Washington in the profits.
Venezuela’s National Assembly unanimously adopted the law on Thursday, providing hope that hundreds of political prisoners behind bars may soon be released.
National Assembly deputy Jorge Arreaza said in a televised interview on Friday that a total of 379 people “must be released, granted amnesty, between tonight and tomorrow morning.”
“Requests have been submitted by the Public Prosecutor’s Office to the competent courts to grant amnesty measures,” he said.
Many relatives of prisoners across Venezuela have waited outside jails for weeks for the potential release of their loved ones.
Hundreds have already been granted conditional release by Interim President Delcy Rodriguez’s government since the deadly US raid that seized Maduro.
The NGO Foro Penal had said before the announcement that some 650 were detained, a toll that has not been updated since.
Foro Penal director Alfredo Romero said Friday that receiving “amnesty is not automatic,” but would require a process in the courts, viewed by many as an arm of Maduro’s repression.
Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Venezuelans have been jailed in recent years over plots, real or imagined, to overthrow Maduro’s government.
Rodriguez was formerly Maduro’s vice president and took his place as the South American country’s leader with the consent of US President Donald Trump, provided that she toe Washington’s line.
The United States has taken over control of Venezuela’s oil sales, with Trump vowing a share for Washington in the profits.
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