emergencies
Taal Volcano active in the Philippines
A small Philippine volcano in a scenic lake near the capital spewed a plume of white steam and ash into the sky in a brief explosion on Saturday. Photo: Reynante Olitan De Villa/AP/dpa
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Just over two years ago, it drove hundreds of thousands of people to flee. Now the Taal volcano is showing activity again. Several villages could be affected again this time.
Because the Taal volcano in the Philippines is emitting fumes and gases, local authorities have called on residents in several nearby villages to evacuate their homes.
On Saturday morning there was a short volcanic eruption on the mountain of fire around 66 kilometers south of the capital Manila, followed by clouds of smoke up to 1.5 kilometers high, said the state seismological institute Phivolcs. The warning level has been raised from 2 to 3 because further outbreaks could occur.
Taal is the second most active volcano in the Philippines after Mayon. It is located on the main island of Luzon. The area is densely populated and also popular with tourists. The volcano last erupted in January 2020. At that time, more than 370,000 people had to leave their homes. The Philippines lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the most geologically active zone on earth.