Thousands Flee as Philippine Volcano Releases Smoke, Ash
菲律宾火山喷发数千人逃离
A volcano in the Philippines released smoke and ash on Monday as scientists warned of a possible "explosive eruption."
周一,菲律宾一座火山喷发产生浓烟和火山灰,科学家警告可能会发生“爆发性火山喷发”。
Clouds of ash were seen rising from the Taal volcano, which sits on an island south of the Philippine capital, Manila. Local officials said more than 24,000 people had already fled the island and surrounding areas.
The volcanic island has long been a popular stop for visitors.
这座火山岛长期以来一直是热门的旅游景点。
Experts warned that a powerful eruption could cause strong waves to develop on the lake surrounding the volcano. Officials were planning to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people.
专家警告称,强烈的火山喷发可能会在火山周围的湖面上掀起巨浪。官员们计划疏散数十万人。
A lack of transport and poor visibility caused evacuation delays in some areas. Officials said some people had refused to leave their homes and property.
交通受阻和能见度低导致一些地区的疏散延迟。官员们表示,一些人拒绝离开家园,抛弃财产。
Wilson Maralit is the mayor of Balete, a town that stretches along the water's edge of Taal Lake, which surrounds the volcano. He told a Philippine radio station that some people were "panicking" from the volcano and felt the need to stay to take care of their farms.
"We're trying to stop them from returning and warning that the volcano can explode again anytime and hit them," Maralit said. The mayor appealed for troops and more police to stop people from secretly returning to their high-risk villages.
By Sunday night, ash from the Taal volcano had blown more than 100 kilometers northward to Manila. Conditions forced the city's main airport to close, with more than 500 flights canceled. Parts of the airport were reopened after the ash fall eased.
Government work and school classes were suspended Monday in many towns and cities, including Manila. Stores quickly sold out of face masks designed to protect against the possible harmful effects of volcanic ash, the French press agency AFP reported.
Steam, ash and rocks blasted up to 15 kilometers into the sky from the volcano, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported. Officials said lava was also seen flowing out of the volcano.
Maria Antonia Bornas is a chief science research specialist at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. "The speed of escalation of Taal's volcanic activity caught us by surprise," she told reporters. She added: "We still can expect a hazardous eruption any time."
Maria Antonia Bornas是菲律宾火山和地震学研究所的首席科学研究专家。她告诉记者,“塔阿尔火山活动升级的速度让我们感到吃惊”。她补充说:“我们仍然可以预期随时会有危险的(火山)喷发。”
Marilou Baldonado lives in the nearby town of Laurel. She told Reuters news agency she fled her home with only two sets of clothes after she saw a huge ash cloud form.