Manila: Scientists say tourists have been banned from a misty, picturesque island in a crater lake south of Manila because volcanic activity detected there could precede an eruption.
Volcanologist July Sabit of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said that rising magma under Taal volcano was increasing volcanic earthquakes, detectable only by instruments, and raising the temperature of the lake.
Sabit said the island's 5,000 residents should prepare for a possible evaculation.
He said Taal, about 75 kilometres south of Manila and one of the Philippines most-visited sites, is off-limits to tourists as of Tuesday.
The volcanology institute issued a level 2 volcanic alert out of a possible 5, indicating that "the volcano is undergoing magmatic intrusion which could eventually lead to an eruption."
