Mt. Pinatubo Blasts Ash 6 Miles High
Mt. Pinatubo, rattled by 124 volcanic quakes, blasted ash more than six miles high today.
It darkened the sky as the nearly 2,000 Americans evacuated from Subic Bay Naval Base aboard the aircraft carrier Midway left Cebu on flights to Guam and the United States.
Philippine officials said preliminary estimates showed Clark Air Force Base alone suffered $300 million in damage since the nearby Mt. Pinatubo began erupting June 9 for the first time in 600 years.
The government sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the estimate was given by American officials, who told them talks on a new lease for U.S. bases in the Philippines must wait until surveys are completed. The lease on the bases expires Sept. 16.
The U.S. Embassy was closed today for a municipal holiday and U.S. officials could not be reached for comment.
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