Small volcano near Philippine capital erupts

A small volcano in a scenic lake south of Manila erupted on Thursday evening, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said. According to the institute, a "minor phreatomagmatic eruption" occurred at Taal Volcano in Batangas province, over 60 km south of Manila.

The eruption lasted for five minutes. The institute said the event generated a dark gray plume that rose 4,000 meters above the crater. The ashfall is expected to affect nearby southwestern regions. Alert Level 1 is maintained over Taal Volcano, with Level 5 the highest in scale. Taal Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines.