Mayon Volcano is seen emitting smoke in Albay province, Bicol region, south of Manila September 17, 2014. The Philippines has evacuated more than 12,000 people from around the foot of its most active volcano as the crater glows red and authorities warn of a possible eruption. Mount Mayon, known for its near-perfect cone shape in the coconut-growing central Bicol region, has recorded a series of recent quakes and rockfalls, indicating a possible eruption within weeks.Reuters 
Residents with their belongings board a military truck on 17 September 2014 as they evacuate their homes after the Mayon volcano spewed smoke. The Philippines has evacuated more than 12,000 people from around the foot of its most active volcano as the crater glows red and authorities warn of a possible eruption.Reuters 
A farmer walks with his buffalo with the Mayon Volcano in the background in Albay province, Bicol region, South of Manila on 17 September 2014 following the evacuation warnings from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.Reuters 
The Mayon volcano, one of the world most active ones, has a history of frequent eruptions that produce pyroclastic flows, mud flows and ash falls that repeatedly triggered large-scale evacuations. Mayon's most violent eruption, in 1814, killed more than 1200 people, while the first record of its eruption dates back to 1616. Since then, it has erupted over 50 times. This picture from 29 December 2009 shows the glowing crater of the Mayon volcano it emits lava in Legazpi City, Albay province, south of Manila.Reuters 
In this picture from 31 December 2009, an 87 year old (then) woman, Julia Azores, who lived in the Bunga town of Albay province in South Manila, which comes under the Extended Danger Zone, is seen being carried by soldiers towards a waiting ambulance during the forced evacuation. The Philippine government's vulcanologists had then warned the public of an impending explosion due to the clogging of magma inside and the swelling of Mayon's surface.Reuters
Standing at 8077 feet, Stratovolcano Mayon Volcano, the most famous of the active volcanoes of the Philippines is heading towards an eruption, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOLCS).
On 15 September, PHILVOLCS raised the alert level of the Mayon volcano from two to three (on a scale of five), i.e., one of the most explosive volcanoes in the world is in a relatively high state of unrest.
According to the Mayon volcano update posted by PHIVOLCS around 8.00 am on 20 September, during their latest 24-hour observation period, four volcanic earthquakes and 22 rock fall events were recorded.
Vigorous steaming and the sustained crater glow was also noticed along with a persistent swelling of the edifice, which shows that magma is quite close to the crater and that "the volcano is exhibiting relatively high unrest due to the movement of potentially eruptible magma."
The scientists predicted that the frequency of volcanic quakes and tremor would increase in the future and that with the seeming trend of increasing unrest, the eruption can be expected within weeks.
On PHIVOLCS' recommendation that the six km radius around Mayon volcano be enforced as Permanant Danger Zone (PDZ) and the seven km radius as Extended Danger Zone (EDZ), owing to the danger of rock falls, landslides and sudden explosions or dome collapses, military trucks were dispatched on Tuesday, 16 September, to evacuate the residents in these areas.
