Phils Volcano Erupts / Kills Foreigners, Creates Job Openings*

[Bruce]

*job openings for experience guides, that is. No names of foreigners yet.

 

Mayon Volcano Erupts, Spewing Rocks And Ash And Killing 5 Climbers In Philippines
05/06/13 11:07 PM ET EDT 

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Rescue teams and helicopters were sent to Mayon volcano in the central Philippines to bring out the dead. .27501Get Green Alerts:

Sign Up ..Follow: Philippines,  Video, Mayon Volcano, Philippine Institute Of Volcanology And Seismology, Renato Solidum, Eduardo Del Rosario, Joey Salceda, Kenneth Jesalva, volcano, Green News .MANILA, Philippines -- One of the Philippines' most active volcanoes spewed huge rocks and ash after daybreak Tuesday, killing at least five climbers and trapping more than a dozen others near the crater in its first eruption in three years, officials said.

Rescue teams and helicopters were sent to Mayon volcano in the central Philippines to bring out the dead. At least seven were injured from a group of about 20 mountaineers who were caught by surprise by the sudden eruption, Albay provincial Gov. Joey Salceda said. Clouds have cleared over the volcano, which was quiet later in the morning.

The climbers who died were struck by huge rocks, guide Kenneth Jesalva told ABS-CBN TV network by cellphone from a camp near the crater. They included a German, an Austrian and a Filipino.

The injured included foreigners and Filipino guides. Some were in critical condition, said the chief of the national disaster agency, Eduardo del Rosario.

Jesalva said he was in the group that spent the night on the picturesque mountain, known for its almost-perfect cone, when the volcano rumbled back to life early in the morning and rocks "as big as a living room" came raining down on them. He rushed back to the base camp to call for help.

The head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Renato Solidum, said Tuesday's eruption was normal for the restive Mayon, about 340 kilometers (212 miles) southeast of Manila. It has erupted about 40 times during the last 400 years.

In 2010, thousands of residents moved to temporary shelters when the volcano ejected ash in an 8-kilometer (5-mile) zone surrounding the crater.

Solidum said that no alert was raised for the volcano following the latest eruption and no evacuation was being planned. Climbers are not allowed when an alert is up, and the recent calm may have encouraged this week's trek.

 

[Dave Hounddriver]

At least seven were injured from a group of about 20 mountaineers who were caught by surprise by the sudden eruption

 

They have been talking about that thing erupting for at least 3 or 4 years now.  How can they be caught by surprise.

[Papa Carl]

For those of you who do not know, this volcano is active, all the time. You can not miss it when in Legazpi City as it can be seen anywhere when in the city, and it has a constant flow, but has not erupted in many years, hence the people climbing on the mountain.

 

To be honest it is really very spectacular when you first see it, and at night from the hotel up on the mountain that used to be owned by Marcos, it lights up the night.

 

Plus there are other local attractions, including some of the most beautiful black beaches in the Philippines.

 

About an hours drive and you can swim with Whale Sharks http://www.sharkdivingphilippines.com/whalesharks.html

 

Our head office is there, and I admit, I actually enjoy going!!!

 

Problem is no flights from Clark, so have to go to Manila to catch a fight.

 

Papa Carl