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Photos: Volcanic eruption in Philippines; thousands flee

Red-hot lava gushed out of a volcano near the Philippine capital on Monday, as tens of thousands of people fled the area through heavy ash and frightening tremors. Experts warned that the eruption could get worse and plans were being made to evacuate hundreds of thousands more. Clouds of ash blew more than 100 kilometre north of the Taal volcano on Sunday, reaching Manila, the bustling capital, and forcing the shutdown of the country's main airport, with more than 500 flights canceled. The airport was partially reopened Monday after the ashfall eased. There have been no reports of casualties or major damage so far.

Updated on: Jan 13, 2020 7:54 PM IST

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1/12

Residents walk past wooden boats as Taal volcano erupts in Tanauan town, Batangas province, south of Manila, Philippines. Clouds of ash blew far north of the Philippines’ Taal volcano, reaching Manila, the country’s bustling capital, and forcing the shutdown of its main airport after lava gushed out of the mountain on Monday. Thousands of villagers were fleeing to safety, but officials say the number could swell to hundreds of thousands. (Ted Aljibe/AFP)

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 7:54 PM

Residents walk past wooden boats as Taal volcano erupts in Tanauan town, Batangas province, south of Manila, Philippines. Clouds of ash blew far north of the Philippines’ Taal volcano, reaching Manila, the country’s bustling capital, and forcing the shutdown of its main airport after lava gushed out of the mountain on Monday. Thousands of villagers were fleeing to safety, but officials say the number could swell to hundreds of thousands. (Ted Aljibe/AFP)

2/12

Rescuer workers load children onto a truck as they evacuate them to a safe place in Talisay town, Batangas province. Police said more than 13,000 villagers had moved to evacuation centres in the hard-hit province of Batangas and nearby Cavite province, but officials expect the number to swell with hundreds of thousands more being brought out of harm’s way. (Ted Aljibe/AFP)

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 7:54 PM

Rescuer workers load children onto a truck as they evacuate them to a safe place in Talisay town, Batangas province. Police said more than 13,000 villagers had moved to evacuation centres in the hard-hit province of Batangas and nearby Cavite province, but officials expect the number to swell with hundreds of thousands more being brought out of harm’s way. (Ted Aljibe/AFP)

3/12

A dog walks along ash fall covered road as Taal Volcano continues to spew ash in Tagaytay, Cavite province. There have been no reports of casualties or major damage from the eruption, but experts warned that it could worsen. (Aaron Favila/AP)

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 7:54 PM

A dog walks along ash fall covered road as Taal Volcano continues to spew ash in Tagaytay, Cavite province. There have been no reports of casualties or major damage from the eruption, but experts warned that it could worsen. (Aaron Favila/AP)

4/12

Residents living near the erupting Taal volcano carry their belongings while they evacuate in Agoncillo, Batangas. Taal, one of the world’s smallest volcanoes, is among two dozen active volcanoes in the Philippines, which lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a seismically active region that is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. (Eloisa Lopez/REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 7:54 PM

Residents living near the erupting Taal volcano carry their belongings while they evacuate in Agoncillo, Batangas. Taal, one of the world’s smallest volcanoes, is among two dozen active volcanoes in the Philippines, which lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a seismically active region that is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. (Eloisa Lopez/REUTERS)

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Erman Batan breaks in tears over her missing husband Roberto who she has not seen since they evacuated their homes near the Taal volcano in Lemery, Batangas. (Aaron Favila/AP)

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 7:54 PM

Erman Batan breaks in tears over her missing husband Roberto who she has not seen since they evacuated their homes near the Taal volcano in Lemery, Batangas. (Aaron Favila/AP)

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A man rides his motorcycle while covering his face along an ash-covered road as they evacuate the area in Lemery. Taal had been restive for months until it suddenly rumbled back to life Sunday, blasting steam, ash and pebbles up to 10 to 15 kilometre into the sky, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. The lava spurting from the volcano’s vents Monday was falling into the lake surrounding the crater. (Aaron Favila/AP)

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 7:54 PM

A man rides his motorcycle while covering his face along an ash-covered road as they evacuate the area in Lemery. Taal had been restive for months until it suddenly rumbled back to life Sunday, blasting steam, ash and pebbles up to 10 to 15 kilometre into the sky, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. The lava spurting from the volcano’s vents Monday was falling into the lake surrounding the crater. (Aaron Favila/AP)

7/12

A youth living at the foot of Taal volcano rides an outrigger canoe while the volcano spews ash as seen from Tanauan town in Batangas. The government volcano-monitoring agency raised the danger level around Taal three notches to level 4, indicating “an imminent hazardous eruption.” (Ted Aljibe/AFP)

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 7:54 PM

A youth living at the foot of Taal volcano rides an outrigger canoe while the volcano spews ash as seen from Tanauan town in Batangas. The government volcano-monitoring agency raised the danger level around Taal three notches to level 4, indicating “an imminent hazardous eruption.” (Ted Aljibe/AFP)

8/12

With the ashfall easing Monday morning, some residents began to shovel away inches of ash that covered everything from homes to cars and roads in Tagaytay, a popular upland resort city on a ridge that overlooks the small but picturesque volcano in the middle of a crater lake. Many of the city’s restaurants and coffee shops, however, were closed, its main road covered in volcanic ash. (Aaron Favila/AP)

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 7:54 PM

With the ashfall easing Monday morning, some residents began to shovel away inches of ash that covered everything from homes to cars and roads in Tagaytay, a popular upland resort city on a ridge that overlooks the small but picturesque volcano in the middle of a crater lake. Many of the city’s restaurants and coffee shops, however, were closed, its main road covered in volcanic ash. (Aaron Favila/AP)

9/12

Houses covered with ashes from the erupting volcano are pictured in Talisay, Batangas. Renato Solidum, who heads the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, outlined that the highest danger level from volcanoes is 5. If this level is reached, it means that a hazardous eruption is underway and could affect a larger area with high-risk zones that would need to be cleared of people. (Eloisa Lopez/REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 7:54 PM

Houses covered with ashes from the erupting volcano are pictured in Talisay, Batangas. Renato Solidum, who heads the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, outlined that the highest danger level from volcanoes is 5. If this level is reached, it means that a hazardous eruption is underway and could affect a larger area with high-risk zones that would need to be cleared of people. (Eloisa Lopez/REUTERS)

10/12

A dog left in a garage covered with ashes barks nearby the erupting Taal volcano in Talisay, Batangas. Ma. Antonio Bornas, the agency’s chief volcanologist, said Taal spurted fountains of lava early Monday while its ash and steam ejections slightly eased. It’s hard to tell when the eruption will stop, she said, citing the volcano’s similar restiveness in the 1970s that lasted for about four months. (Eloisa Lopez/REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 7:54 PM

A dog left in a garage covered with ashes barks nearby the erupting Taal volcano in Talisay, Batangas. Ma. Antonio Bornas, the agency’s chief volcanologist, said Taal spurted fountains of lava early Monday while its ash and steam ejections slightly eased. It’s hard to tell when the eruption will stop, she said, citing the volcano’s similar restiveness in the 1970s that lasted for about four months. (Eloisa Lopez/REUTERS)

11/12

A man walks through thick ash on a road from Taal volcano in Lemery, Batangas. The current evacuation numbers are likely higher since local authorities are busy helping displaced people before notifying the national agency that is collating the figures. Some residents could not move out of ash-blanketed villages due to a lack of transport and poor visibility, while others were refusing to leave their homes and farms. (Aaron Favila/AP)

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 7:54 PM

A man walks through thick ash on a road from Taal volcano in Lemery, Batangas. The current evacuation numbers are likely higher since local authorities are busy helping displaced people before notifying the national agency that is collating the figures. Some residents could not move out of ash-blanketed villages due to a lack of transport and poor visibility, while others were refusing to leave their homes and farms. (Aaron Favila/AP)

12/12

A Christmas ornament is covered in ash from Taal volcano in Tagaytay, Lemery, Batangas. Apart from volcanic eruptions, about 20 typhoons and other major storms each year also lash the Philippines, which lies between the Pacific and the South China Sea, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries. (Aaron Favila/AP)

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 7:54 PM

A Christmas ornament is covered in ash from Taal volcano in Tagaytay, Lemery, Batangas. Apart from volcanic eruptions, about 20 typhoons and other major storms each year also lash the Philippines, which lies between the Pacific and the South China Sea, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries. (Aaron Favila/AP)

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