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MANILA, Philippines - Government volcanologists on Wednesday said only one ash explosion and fewer volcanic earthquakes have been recorded from Mount Mayon in Albay, but the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) kept Alert Level 4 hoisted over the restive volcano.

Phivolcs' Wednesday bulletin issued at 7 a.m. said the ash explosion produced a dirty white ash column that rose 100 meters above the crater summit.

It said lava continued to flow down along the Bonga-Buyuan, Miisi and Lidong gullies. The lava flow has stretched to 5.9 kilometers from the summit along the Bonga-Buyuan gully, the Phivolcs added.

The agency said its equipment recorded only 16 volcanic earthquakes coupled with rumbling sounds and a total of 150 rock fall events were noticed due to the detachment of lava fragment from the volcano's upper slopes.

The Phivolcs said the volcano's sulfur dioxide emission remained high at an average value of 4,397 tons per day.

Alert Level 4 remains hoisted over the volcano, which means hazardous explosion is still imminent.

Nearly 10,000 families remained in at least 30 evacuation centers around Albay. Reports said at least 4 people who have pre-existing health conditions have died in evacuation centers.