Thousands evacuated as Mayon volcano threatens eruption

Thousands of Filipinos have fled their homes on the northern island of Luzon after the Mount Mayon volcano began to spew lava.

The authorities are forcibly evacuating villagers living within 6km of the crater, which is about 330km south-east of the capital, Manila.

The government is also advising residents living in the 6-8km zone to leave.

Scientists have warned that Mayon could fully erupt within weeks and have raised the alert level to "critical".

According to local authorities, a series of small earthquakes and rockfalls had been recorded and magma could now be seen in the crater.

"Mayon is exhibiting relatively high unrest and that magma is at the crater and that hazardous eruption is possible within weeks," The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said in a statement.

The 2,460m volcano last erupted in May 2013, killing four climbers and their guide.