Already, 40,000 people have fled the no-go zone around Mount Mayon, which oozed crimson lava during eerie scenes captured last night.
But around 3,000 residents, mostly farmers, remain – with some even returning after being evacuated up to three times by authorities.
Eerie: Lava cascades down the slopes of the Mayon volcano as Filipino experts warn it could explode
Eerie: Lava cascades down the slopes of the Mayon volcano as Filipino experts warn it could explode
As well as being covered by rivers of lava, those who stay face the additional danger of suffocating ash explosions, experts said.
Scientists warned that powerful booms emanating from the country's most active volcano - 200 miles from capital Manila - indicated that a major eruption was imminent.
After a week of puffing out ash and sending bursts of lava trickling down its steep slopes, the 8,070ft mountain overlooking the Gulf of Albay and Legazpi city in Albay province, in the central Philippines, has caused nearly 2,000 volcanic earthquakes and tremors since yesterday.
The emission of sulphur dioxide - an indication of magma rising inside the volcano - jumped to 6,000 tons per day from the normal 500, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
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Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1237494/Philippine-volcano-verge-eruption-lava-spills-mountain--villagers-refusing-leave.html#ixzz0aUWhJHZ3 
