Tourists, guide killed as volcano erupts in the Philippines

• AP
• May 07, 201311:44AM

Lava cascades down the slopes of Mayon volcano as seen from Legazpi City, Albay province, 330 kilometres southeast of Manila late December 28, 2009. AFP PHOTO/TED ALJIBE Source: AFP

Mayon ash explosion courtesy of Bayan Patroller Jhie Nopia. Photo: @ANCALERTS ABS-CBN News Channel, TwitterSource: Supplied

THREE foreign climbers and their Filipino guide have been killed when one of the Philippines' most active volcanoes spewed rocks and ash after a three year calm.

Albay provincial Governor Joey Salceda said rescue teams are being dispatched on Tuesday to Mayon volcano in the central Philippines to look for four more climbers and guides still trapped near the crater.

Guide Kenneth Jesalva told ABS-CBN TV network by mobile phone from a camp near the crater that the four climbers died after being hit by huge rocks.

Another man was critically injured from a group of eight that included five foreigners and three Filipino guides. The nationalities of the foreign climbers are not yet clear.