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A massive explosion has taken place at volcano in the Philippines leading to fears of a major eruption within days.
A huge giant mushroom-shaped cloud shot up from Mount Mayon, the country's most active volcano, today.
The explosion darkened the skies and rained ash on communities where tens of thousands have fled after warnings of an impending eruption.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised its alert on Mayon to level 4 after the explosion - meaning a hazardous eruption is imminent.
Mayon is the country's most active volcano and has been spewing ash and lava since January 13 already displacing close to 40,000 residents in the central province of Albay.