`VOLCANO' STEAMS AHEAD ASSOCIATED PRESS.

``Volcano'' dumped ``Anaconda'' from its No. 1 perch at the box office but failed to generate the heat of its earlier rival, ``Dante's Peak.''

The disaster film about a volcano erupting in Los Angeles had $14.7 million in ticket sales in its debut, according to industry estimates Sunday.

``Dante's Peak,'' about an erupting volcano that destroys a small town, beat it to the screen by two months and took in $18.6 million for the best February opening ever.

``Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion,'' an exuberant comedy starring Oscar-winner Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow as two losers faking success at their 10-year reunion, debuted in second place with $7.6 million.

Final weekend box office figures were to be released today.

The top 10 films from Friday through Sunday:

1. ``Volcano,'' $14.7 million.

2. ``Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion,'' $7.6 million.

3. ``Anaconda,'' $7.3 million.

4. ``Liar, Liar,'' $6.8 million.

5. ``The Saint,'' $5 million.

6. ``Murder at 1600,'' $4.7 million.

7. ``Grosse Pointe Blank,'' 3 million.

8. ``Scream,'' $1.4 million.

9. ``The Devil's Own,'' $1.2 million.

10. ``Chasing Amy,'' $1.1 million.

10. ``That Old Feeling,'' $1.1 million.