by Xinhua writer Zhang Yisheng
LEGAZPI CITY, the Philippines, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) — On Luzon island, Mayon Volcano stands tall, a nearly perfect cone against the Philippine sky.
But these days, its beauty is deceptive. Beneath the surface, the mountain is restless. For the thousands of people living in its shadow, Mayon is no longer just a landmark — it is a ticking time bomb.
Since Jan. 6, the volcano has been under Alert Level 3, signaling “a high level of volcanic unrest.” According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the volcano has experienced episodic mild magmatic eruptions.
From a rooftop in Legazpi City, the capital of Albay province, one…