Philippines' Mayon volcano spews ash — Pictures

The Mayon Volcano in the Philippines erupted, prompting the evacuation of dozens of surrounding villages, authorities said Sunday.

In an alert published on its website, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned of a "high level of magmatic activity," with lava flows stretching several kilometers.

It issued a Level 3 alert and said a permanent danger zone within a 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) radius of the volcano's crater must be strictly observed.

Phivolcs also warned that rockfalls, avalanches and moderate-sized explosions were possible, adding that 32 volcanic earthquakes had been recorded within 24 hours.

The PNA news agency reported that about 52 villages around Mayon, which lies about 330 kilometers (205 miles) southeast of the capital, Manila, have been affected by falling ash since Saturday.

The Philippines is located in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of fault lines often hit by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

The 2,463-meter (8,007-foot) Mayon is the most active volcano in the country.

Its worst eruption, in 1814, killed more than 1,200 people. An eruption in 1993 killed 79 people..

Edited by: Louis Oelofse