Filipinos Flee as Volcano Threatens

Frightened Philippine villagers, fearing a major eruption of the Mayon volcano, streamed into evacuation shelters Sunday.

Five days after killing 68 people in an ash explosion, Mayon shot volcanic debris 650 feet into the air and emitted sulfurous odors, which scientists said signaled an impending blast.

Police reported that wells in four villages at the foot of Mayon had begun drying up in what scientists said could be another sign of the deteriorating condition of the 7,940-foot volcano near the city of Legazpi, 200 miles southeast of Manila.

While thousands continued to flee to government shelters, 1,000 residents of four villages on Mayon’s lower slopes refused to abandon their houses, civil defense coordinator Zedric Daaep said.

He said the government might have to order their forced evacuation if they did not move.

Leaders of various churches--from the Roman Catholic Church to Seventh-day Adventists--called on their flocks to pray for divine intervention.

In many villages, peasants bore crucifixes and religious icons in processions through dusty roads, praying to God to appease the restive mountain, priests said.