Significant ash falls near erupting Philippine volcano
By Associated Press
Jan 29, 2018 9:10 PM CST
Molten lava flows down the slopes of Mayon volcano during its mild eruption as seen from Legazpi city, Albay province, southeast of Manila, Philippines Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Mayon's lava fountaining has flowed up to 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) from the crater in a dazzling but increasingly dangerous...   (Associated Press)

LEGAZPI, Philippines (AP) — A significant amount of ash has fallen on towns near the Philippines' most active volcano after energetic eruptions of lava from the crater.

Mount Mayon in northeastern Albay province has been erupting more than two weeks, and 84,000 people who fled are staying in schools and other crowded shelters.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said one large lava eruption lasted more than an hour and a half late Monday. The ash plume reached 1.5 kilometers (.9 miles) above the crater and caused significant ashfall in the towns of Camalig and Guinobatan.

The government has raised the possibility of creating a permanent "no man's land" around Mayon, a complicated proposal that would affect thousands.

Provincial leaders say disaster funds are running low and supplies like facemasks will be depleted.

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