The Philippines" most active volcano on Friday appeared to be cooling down after nearly three weeks of intense activity, dpa quoted officials as saying. Authorities said some of the 47,563 people forced to stay in evacuation centers might soon be allowed to return home. Mayon Volcano in Albay province, 360 kilometres south-east of Manila, has been ejecting lava and plumes of ash since December 14, forcing the evacuations. But the volcano, famous for its near-perfect cone, has quieted down in the past two days. While lava was still flowing out of its crater, no ash explosions were recorded for the second-straight day Friday. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the number of volcanic earthquakes and sulfur dioxide emissions had also declined. "If no significant events should occur during the next few days, Phivolcs shall consider the possibility of lowering down the alert level from four to three," the institute said. Albay Governor Joey Salceda said the institute has asked for a few more days of observations before scientists would decide if it was safe for residents to return home. "I am quite relieved about the possibility of a lower alert level," he said. Salceda said that at alert level three, the provincial government would allow 34,482 displaced residents to go back to their homes around Mayon. Only 12,803 people who live within six kilometres of the volcano"s summit would have to stay in evacuation centers, he said. The 2,472-metre volcano has erupted about 50 times since 1616. It last erupted in July 2006, forcing more than 30,000 people to flee their homes. Mayon"s most violent eruption was in 1814 when more than 1,200 people were killed and a town was buried in volcanic mud. An eruption in 1993 killed 79 people.
