Philippine volcano near capital spews ash and gas

A small volcano in a lake near the Philippine capital emitted a white plume of steam and ash 1.5 kilometers into the sky in a brief explosion on Saturday. 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 raised the alarm at the 1,020-footTaal, one of the world's smallest volcanoes, to the third level in a five-step warning syste

m. Residents of five lakeside villages were warned of possible hazards, including fast-moving gas and molten materials and "volcanic tsunami" and urged to evacuate to safer areas.Taal erupted in January 2020.