Mount Mayon: Philippines shuts more schools as volcano spews ash and lava

Nine episodes of volcanic activity were recorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Cloud-covered Mayon volcano spews ash as it erupts near the Philippine city of Legazpi in Albay province. Charism Sayat / AFP Photo

Lava continues to cascade down the slopes of Mayon volcano as seen from Legazpi city, Albay province, around 340 kilometres southeast of Manila, Philippines. Earl Recamunda / AP Photo

A view of rumbling Mayon Volcano as it spews ash in Legaspi city, Philippines. Francis R. Malasig / EPA

Filipino villagers sit along the slopes of rumbling Mayon Volcano as it spews ash in Legaspi city, Philippines. Francis R. Malasig / EPA

A Filipino villager collects rocks along the slopes of rumbling Mayon Volcano as it spews ash in Legaspi city, Albay province in the Philippines. Francis R. Malasig / EPA

A Filipino villager living along the slopes of rumbling Mayon Volcano displays a notice to vacate in Legaspi city, Philippines. Francis R. Malasig / EPA

Filipino villagers walk along the slopes of rumbling Mayon Volcano as it spews ash in Legaspi city, Albay province, Philippines. Francis R. Malasig / EPA

Filipino government troops get into a military truck next to villagers living along the slopes of rumbling Mayon Volcan in Legaspi city, Albay province, Philippines. Francis R. Malasig / EPA

Filipino villagers walk along the slopes of rumbling Mayon Volcano as it spews ash in Legaspi city, Albay province, Philippines. Francis R. Malasig / EPA

Filipino villagers with their belongings manoeuvre along the slopes of rumbling Mayon Volcano in Legaspi city, Albay province, Philippines. Francis R. Malasig / EPA

A Filipino villager rides a water buffalo along the slopes of rumbling Mayon Volcano as it spews ash in Legaspi city, Albay province, Philippines. Francis R. Malasig / EPA

The Philippines' most active volcano spewed lava that cascaded down its slope and emitted ash that fell on nearby towns.

The volcanic activity prompted the provincial government to shut more schools.

Nine episodes were recorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), four of which accompanied lava fountains, and 75 lava collapse events as pressure builds up leading to lava flows and ash plumes.

Read more: 15,000 flee as Philippines warns of volcano eruption

It warned that a hazardous eruption could happen any time.

Mount Mayon, in the central Bicol region, draws tourists because of its near-perfect cone shape. It has shown increased restiveness since Saturday, displacing thousands of residents.

Phivolcs said the advancing lava and pyroclastic flows had reached the six-kilometre radius no-go zone, from which some residents fled.

"Alert level 3 remains in effect over Mayon Volcano, which means that it is currently in a relatively high level of unrest as magma is at the crater and hazardous eruption is possible within weeks or even days," it said.

Alert level 4 means an eruption is possible "within days" while level 5 is when a hazardous eruption is under way.