Mayon in the central Philippines continues to spew out lava and ash, showing signs that a full-scale eruption is likely.

 

Mayon has erupted nearly 40 times in 400 years, continues to give off small eruptions of ash and lava.

More than 30-thousand residents have been evacuated to shelters just in case of an even larger eruption.

Villagers in the region are accustomed to the volcano's periodic rumblings, but evacuations are still unsettling.

Lorna Vivar, Evacuee, said, "We don't know how long we'll have to stay here. Maybe until Mayon stops acting up, we won't be able to leave."

During the day, the summit is shrouded in white clouds and ash, and dark orange lava is clearly visible at night

Scientists raised the alert level on Mayon to two steps below a major eruption after ash explosions late Monday.

The Philippines lies in the "Ring of Fire", a belt of volcanoes circling the Pacific Ocean that is also prone to earthquakes.

Mayon is the most active of 22 volcanoes in the country. Its last eruption was in 2006.