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Part 2

February 24, 2000 (Thursday)

In 14 explosions, the mountain shot lava and ash into the air, darkening the sky and prompting a mass evacuation.

February 25, 2000 (Friday)

The 2,460-meter volcano appeared to have simmered down, quietly extruding lava from its crater.
Hundreds of evacuees returned to their homes during the lull to check or collect firewood, water and clothes.
Many complained of overcrowded evacuation centers at schools where some families are packed 12 to a room. Others say there were not enough toilet facilities and drinking water.
Then President Joseph Estrada released some 20 million pesos for relief fund.

February 26, 2000 (Saturday)

Shortly before noon, the volcano ejected a cloud of ash 500 meters into the sky, accompanied by a loud booming sound.
Around 2:30 p.m., a bigger explosion shot ashes two kilometers high. The ashes drifted southwest and settled on the slopes. The thickest ashfall was recorded in Barangay Masarawag, Guinobatan, around 8 kilometers from the crater.
The more than 47,000 evacuees had been warned to keep away from the 8-kilometer danger zone. The area was still under Alert Level 5.