Warning in Philippines to 'evacuate or face death penalty' as Mayon volcano threatens deadly eruption

More than 56,000 villagers are now camped in emergency shelters as the Philippines' most active volcano continues to threaten a potentially deadly eruption.

Fountains of red-hot lava and huge plumes of ash gushed thousands of feet into the air above Mount Mayon on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after its most explosive activity since rumblings began just over a week ago.

Authorities raised the alert level from three to the second-highest level of four on Monday, meaning that a "hazardous eruption is imminent", and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has previously warned of "the danger of rockfalls, landslides and sudden explosions".
Some 56,217 people are taking shelter in 46 evacuation camps and army troops and police are continuing to help move more villagers from their homes. More than 30,000 ash masks and about 5,000 sacks of rice, along with medicine, water and other supplies have been taken in.

One disaster relief official warned that anyone who does not evacuate faces "a death penalty".

"If pyroclastic flows hit people, there is no chance for life," Cedric Daep told a news conference.

"Let us not violate the natural law, avoid the prohibited zone, because if you violate, the punishment is the death penalty."The danger zone around the crater has been expanded from 6km (3.7m) to 8km (5m), but some residents have still tried to sneak back to their homes to check on them and even watch a popular cockfight in Albay province's Santo Domingo town.

Quitin Velardo, a 59-year-old farmer, wanted to return to his village to take his cow and water buffalo to safety.

"We couldn't sleep last night because of the loud rumblings," he said.

"It sounded like an airplane that's about to land."