Thousands flee as Philippine volcano erupts

The 1,559-metre (5,115-foot) Mount Bulusan volcano emits ash into the air as it erupts in the town of Irosin, Sorsogon province in the Philippines yesterday.Photo: AFP

Thousands of people in the Philippines fled their homes as a volcano erupted yesterday, sending a spectacular column of ash high into the sky, residents said.
The eruption of Bulusan, a 1,559-metre (5,115-foot) volcano, turned mid-morning into night for about 20 minutes across largely farming areas around its slopes, regional army spokesman Major Harold Cabunoc told AFP.
"There was a major ashfall. There was zero visibility," Cabunoc said.
State volcanologist Ramil Vaquilar told AFP that rumbling sounds accompanied the ash column that rose between two and 2.5 kilometres (1.2-1.6 miles) above the crater.