Philippines evacuates thousands and raises Mayon Volcano alert to Level 3

11 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · May 3

The evacuations were ordered south of Manila, with residents told to avoid a six-kilometre danger zone around the volcano.
The volcanology institute reported strombolian activity and short-lived lava fountaining, warning that the eruption could trigger landslides and lava flows.
Mayon is among the Philippines' most active volcanoes, and Alert Level 3 on the country's five-step scale signals heightened unrest and possible hazardous eruption.

Is evacuating thousands for a 'least dangerous' eruption a necessary precaution or a costly overreaction?

As cities grow into danger zones, can volcanic ash be turned from a hazard into a valuable resource?