Safe distance from a volcano

[Oasis]

I saw a house for sale in Legaspi City, Albay Province, with a very nce view of the Mayon Volcano. This Volcano is currently active, so I was wondering what would be considered a "safe" distance in case of an explosion. I don't want to wake up to fireballs falling through my roof some night if I decide to buy a home there.

[Oasis]

I am still interested in this area, so if anyone has any information it would be great.

[T.S.]

Originally Posted by Oasis

I am still interested in this area, so if anyone has any information it would be great.

I will ask for you on this "Philippine Living Island Paradise" Yahoo group that I recently joined. Maybe somebody there can give you some information.

[T.S.]

Some replies.

About the same distance you would want to be when a nuclear bomb went
off! Seriously, there are different types of volcanoes. Some "leak"
like Kilauea in Hawaii, some explode like Pinatubo. People live very
close to Kilauea, although occasionally a village gets covered by
lava. This is a slow process though. Don't know what type Mayan is.

Simple answer. If you can see it, you are too close.

The real killer on these things isn't just the lava, it's the ash.
While Mayon may eject lava, creating it's beautiful cone and
fireworks, should it really get going the ash is what you will have
to worry about. When Pinutubo blew up, the ash not only covered
Angeles, it covered Subic as well. Typically the government will
cordone off 6 to 10 KM around the mountain. That's to protect people
from the lava and lahar.

The fact that there currently is no problem is no guarantee it won't
happen tomorrow. Mt. St. Helens was no problem either until one day
when it destroyed hundreds of square miles.

Do yourself a favor. Take a picture of Mayon and blow it up to window
size. Put it on your wall.

[simplyjacy]

i'm from the philippines but i can't give you a fair opinion about it coz i for one is afraid and paranoid about volvanoes. scary thing! but it should be a wonderful sight when you wake up in the morning though.