Displaced Filipinos brace for long wait as fiery Mayon rumbles on

A view of the Mayon Volcano after a new eruption in Camalig, Albay province, south of Manila, Philippines January 24, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines (Reuters) - A huge plume of ash billowed from the glowing peak of the Philippines' most active volcano on Thursday, as more residents of surrounding areas fled and experts warned of further escalation 12 days after it started to erupt.

A cloud hovered some 8,202 feet (2,500 meters) above Mount Mayon in central Albay province and orange lava fountained and flowed down from its crater as magma continued to move beneath.

A view of the Mayon Volcano after a new eruption in Camalig, Albay province, south of Manila, Philippines January 24, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

Scientists recorded regular episodes of intense activity throughout the day. Tourists, residents and media gathered at vantage points to document the drama at the country's most impressive volcano, which last erupted in 2014.

Mayon's unrest has displaced about 75,500 people, the majority of whom are in evacuation centers, where children lined up for meals and parents braced for the possibility of a long stay away from home.

"We are worried. We got used to the volcano, but we are still afraid," said one evacuee, Irene Agao.

A resident staying at a temporary evacuation center receives relief goods after Mayon Volcano erupt anew in Camalig, Albay province, south of Manila, Philippines January 24, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

"If only we could, we would go home right now, away from this evacuation center, but we need to stay. Because we never know what else the beautiful Mayon volcano will do."

Government offices and schools have been closed in 17 towns and municipalities and 66 flights have been canceled in recent days. The authorities have warned residents far from the area to stay indoors to avoid heavy ash fall.

The alert remains just one notch below the highest level of 5, after five more episodes. The provincial government has expanded the no-go area around the 2,462-metre (8,077-foot) Mayon to a radius of 9 kilometers.

Lava flows from the crater of Mayon Volcano as seen from Legazpi city, Albay province, south of Manila, Philippines January 24, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

Mayon was showing no signs of calming down soon, said Paul Alanis of the Philippine volcanology agency.

"Right now our instruments around the volcano are measuring or detecting magma constantly coming up from below," Alanis said.

"So there's always that danger, that this may still escalate."

A resident washes tomatoes covered by ash from Mayon Volcano after an eruption at Guinobatan, Albay province, south of Manila, Philippines January 24, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

(Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

Residents stay at a temporary evacuation center after Mayon Volcano erupted at Camalig, Albay province, south of Manila, Philippines January 24, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

Residents staying at a temporary evacuation center wait for relief goods after Mayon Volcano erupted at Camalig, Albay province, south of Manila, Philippines January 24, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

A resident and his water buffalo walk at a river, while the Mayon volcano spews ash in Guniobatan, Albay Province, Philippines January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer

Soldiers and residents board a military truck, as they prepare to depart to an evacuation center, after the Mayon volcano erupted in Guniobatan, Albay Province, Philippines January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer

A soldier helps residents as they prepare to depart to an evacuation centre after the Mayon volcano erupted in Guniobatan, Albay Province, Philippines January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer

Residents wear face masks as they board a motorised tricycle towards an evacuation center, as the Mayon volcano spews ash in Guniobatan, Albay Province, Philippines January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer

A view of the Mayon Volcano after a new eruption in Legazpi city, Albay province, south of Manila, Philippines January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Rhadyz Barcia