Philippine volcano near capital spews ash and gas

A small volcano in a scenic lake near the Philippine capital belched a white plume of steam and ash (1 mile) into the sky in a brief explosion on Saturday, prompting authorities to raise the alert level and urge thousands of residents to protectively evacuate from high-risk villages.

Magma came into contact with water in the main crater of Taal volcano in Batangas province, setting off the steam-driven blast that was followed by smaller emissions and accompanied by volcanic earthquakes, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

The institute raised the alarm at the (311-meter) Taal, one of the world's smallest volcanoes, to the third level in a five-step warning system, meaning "there is magmatic intrusion at the main crater that may further drive succeeding eruptions."