Philippines: Volcano near Manila spews giant ash column

Residents of towns near Taal Volcano are being taken to safer ground following increasing volcanic activity, a disaster-mitigation official said. Philippine authorities suspended flights from Manila's main international airport "until further notice" on Sunday after a massive ash cloud spewed from a volcano south of the capital. Transport secretary Arthur Tugade had instructed aviation officials to "do whatever is necessary in the interest of public safety", said a joint statement from air and transport authorities.

Lightning strikes as Taal Volcano spews columns of ashes as seen from Tagaytay City

Taal Volcano eruption from Anilao, Batangas

Residents evacuate as Taal Volcano erupts in Tagaytay, Cavite province, outside Manila

Lightning streak over Batangas as Taal Volcano continue its eruption

Binintiang Malaki is the prettiest and most photographed part of the island and many people think that it is Taal Volcano. Taal Volcano has 47 craters, and Binintiang Malaki is among them.

The Taal Basilica with the Taal Volcano releasing steam in the background. At 2.04pm on Sunday, January 12, 2020, Phivolcs (Philippine volcanology agency), raised the alert level over Taal Volcano to 3, i.e. "magmatic unrest". This means there is magmatic intrusion that is likely driving the current volcanic activity. Two hours later, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the alert status to "Level 4," which means that a "hazardous explosive eruption" was expected within hours to days. The highest alert is set at Level 5, reserved for ongoing magma eruption. The agency also warned that surrounding areas were at risk of a volcanic tsunami.

A view of the eruption of Taal Volcano, about 50km from Manila. The escalation of volcanic activity kicked up an eruption plume about 1 kilometer-high, and was accompanied by volcanic tremor and felt earthquakes at the Taal Volcano Island and the surrounding areas. Ashfall is currently being showered on the southwest sector of Taal.

Tens of thousands are expected to evacuate from nearby cities and towns. The Philippine Red Cross deployed thousands of volunteers and at least nine ambulances in three surrounding provinces. "Senior citizens must be taken care of, especially those with respiratory diseases," said Richard Gordon, a senator who serves as chairman of the Philippine Red Cross.

Ash clouded visibility on highways and coated cars and streets as far as Manila. Flights to and from the capital were canceled as ash accumulated on the runways. Drugstores quickly run out of face masks.

People take photos of a phreatic explosion from the Taal volcano as seen from the town of Tagaytay in Cavite province, southwest of Manila. Due to possible hazards of pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami, Philippine authorities urged residents of high-risk villages of Agoncillo and Laurel, Batangas to evacuate.

A netizen on board an aircraft approaching Manila took this photo of Taal volcano's phreatic explosion. All flights to and from Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport are on hold following what is known as "phreatic" eruption. Passengers are advised to coordinate with their respective airline companies.

A drone shot of the Taal Volcano eruption at Lobo, Batangas

Ash column of the Taal Volcano seen during a flight from Caticlan to Manila.

The Taal Volcano in Batangas province south of Manila, spewed a giant ash column on Sunday afternoon. The volcano is actually an island within a lake (called Taal). The entire Volcano Island is considered a "Permanent Danger Zone."

Evacuations underway as Phivolcs raises Alert Level 3 over Taal Volcano, located around 50 kilometers south of Manila.

Lightning strikes at Taal Volcano's ash column after its phreatic explosion.

Phreatic explosions are heard at the main crater of Taal Volcano. Philippine authorities on Sunday advised communities around the Taal Lake shore to take precautionary measures and be vigilant of possible lakewater disturbances related to the ongoing volcanic unrest.

Philvolcs raised the Alert status of Taal from Alert Level 2 (increasing unrest) to Alert Level 3 (magmatic unrest).

Phivolcs said Taal volcano “has escalated its eruptive activity, generating an eruption plume one kilometre-high accompanied by volcanic tremor and felt earthquakes in Volcano Island and barangays of Agoncillo, Batangas.”

Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum says a phreatic explosion occurred at Taal's main crater around 1 p.m.

Plumes of smoke and ash rise from as Taal Volcano erupts.

Ashfall from Taal Volcano has reached homes in Silang, Cavite.

Photo taken from installed IP camera monitoring the activity of Taal Volcano.

A massive plume of ash from Taal volcano is seen from Indang town in the neighbouring province of Cavite, near Manila. All flights to and from Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport are on hold following the volcano's eruption. Passengers were advised to coordinate with their respective airliners

A view of the Taal volcano eruption seen from Tagaytay.