PHILIPPINES  –  Hundreds of residents living near Mount Kanlaon in the Philippines were ordered to evacuate after the volcano erupted, sending a three-mile tall (five-kilometer) ash column into the sky that caused dozens of flights to be canceled.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Mount Kanlaon erupted for six minutes last Monday evening, causing a “strong earthquake,” as the agency warned that ash fall and sulphuric odor would affect surrounding villages.

Forty-three volcanic earthquakes had been recorded according to the agency’s volcano summary.

Images on social media showed an ash cloud shooting into the starry night sky. Others showed a thick blanket of ash covering surrounding villages.

Over 60 flights from three domestic carriers were canceled overnight, impacting over 5,000 passengers, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

Since the alert level on the volcano was raised to 2 out of a possible 5, local government officials have ordered the mandatory evacuation of all residents living within a 3-kilometer (1.8-mile) radius of the volcano.

“Go down to your respective evacuation centers, be vigilant, and prepare important things such as water and food,” Jose Chubasco Cardenas, mayor of Canlaon City in Negros Oriental province, said a Facebook video.

Situated on Negros, the fourth most populous island of the archipelago, Mount Kanlaon is one of 24 seismically active volcanoes in the country. It straddles two provinces and sits at highest point on the island with an elevation of 8,086 feet (2,465 meters) above sea level.

The Philippines sits along the Ring of Fire, a 25,000-mile (40,000-kilometer) arc of seismic fault lines around the Pacific Ocean that hosts more than half of the world’s volcanoes. (CNN)

Photo: Mount Kanlaon volcano spewing a large plume of ash during an eruption as seen from La Castellana town, Negros occidental province.   (Photo: Manila Standard) …[+]

Prashant P., Ramesh P., Clifton J. and Albert G. who were arrested on various charges including drug trafficking appeared in court  on Monday.  The prime suspect,   Joel Martinus alias Bordo, could not be questioned because he is currently in police custody in Brazil.  Prashant P.  and  his brother, Ramesh P., claimed that the order to bury a plane was given by Bordo.

Ramesh P. is aware of the fact that Ramrag Ramnauth worked for Bordo and that he went missing. He and his brother are truck drivers who worked with

Ramnauth  were hired to clear a roadside but when they arrived at the location, they saw an illegal airstrip and a plane. The brothers claimed that they did not know what the plane had transported. Bordo had made it clear to them that they should not take pictures of the plane and the airstrip.

Ramnauth who operated an excavator had to dig a hole to bury the plane.

Both brothers had spotted  Albert G. with a heavy machine gun at the location. He reportedly threatened them with his weapon.  Clifton J. who was also on the scene told them how to bury the plane. Albert G. claimed that he worked for Bordo and that he had to bring food to the people who would cut down trees in the forest.

Bordo had not told him anything about a plane but only spoke about planting crops. Albert G was in the area when the plane landed. Bordo had made it clear to him that he had to keep it a secret. “He told me not to leave that day and he also threatened me,” said Albert G.

 Bordo left after the plane had landed. Albert G who reportedly received €2,300  the next day claimed that he saw parcels being taken out of the plane.

Clifton J. claimed that Bordo took him to the area but denied having seen a plane. “I suspect that it was already buried when I got there,” said Clifton J. …[+]