This article is more than 10 years old

This article is more than 10 years old

Tens of thousands of people were today being moved from towns and villages around a volcano in the Philippines, after it began spewing lava and ash.

Mount Mayon, in Albay province, is one of the most active volcanos in the Philippines. It began releasing lava earlier this week, with volcanologists warning there could be an eruption in the next few days.

Authorities said evacuees were likely to spend Christmas in an evacuation centre, as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the alert level around Mayon, located around 210 miles south east of Manila, the Philippine capital.

Renato Solidum, the head of the institute, said magma had been rising at the 2,460-metre high volcano for the past two weeks and the situation could worsen over coming days.

"Now lava is trickling down, but if the ascent of magma is sustained there will be lava flows," he said, adding that lava had flowed half a mile down from the crater. "There is also the possibility of an explosion."

The institute said it has raised the alert to level three. Level four means an eruption is imminent, while level five means an eruption is occurring.

Nearly 50,000 people live within five miles of the mountain. The Albay provincial governor, Joey Salceda, who cancelled a trip to the Copenhagen climate summit to oversee emergency arrangements, said nearly 20,000 of those had been evacuated to safety by nightfall on Tuesday.

"Whatever the volcano does, our target is zero casualty," he said, adding that he had placed central Albay under a "state of imminent disaster," making it easier for him to draw emergency funds.

Authorities in Albay said evacuees would be would be temporarily housed in school buildings and public gymnasiums, but warned provisions could run short.

"We are in the process of evacuating nearly 10,000 families around the 6-8 km danger zone around the volcano," Cedric Daep, head of the public safety office said, adding: "We have enough food for all these people for only a month."

Daep said humanitarian and non-government groups have pledged to send food, water, medicines and blankets.

Mayon is considered to be one of the world's most perfectly formed volcanos because of its near symmetrical cone. There were 30,000 people moved from areas around the volcano in 2006, when it last erupted.

About 20 vehicles were being used to transport residents to schools and other temporary housing, according to an Albay emergency management official, Jukes Nunez.

"It's 10 days before Christmas," he said. "Most likely people will be in evacuation centres, and if Mayon's activity won't ease down we will not allow them to return to their homes. It's difficult and sad, especially for children."

Mayon's most violent recorded eruption was in 1814, killing more than 1,200 people and burying a town in mud. The Philippines lies along the Pacific "Ring of Fire" – an area prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.