Philippines evacuates thousands amid fears of a 'volcanic tsunami'

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A small volcano near the Philippine capital erupted with a massive plume of ash and steam on Sunday.

The Philippines is bracing for a major eruption from one of its most active volcanoes amid escalating agitation on Sunday that sent ash spewing as far as the capital and prompted the evacuation of thousands.

The column of ash released from the Taal volcano in Batangas province, almost two hours south of the capital by car, rose 10 to 15 kilometres into the sky.

Two hours later, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the alert status to "Level 4", which means that a "hazardous explosive eruption" was expected within hours to days. The highest alert is set at Level 5, reserved for ongoing magma eruption.

Residents look on as Taal Volcano erupts.
Ezra Acayan
Residents look on as Taal Volcano erupts.

The agency also warned that surrounding areas were at risk of a "volcanic tsunami". A volcano can "displace a great volume of water and generate extremely destructive tsunami waves in the immediate source area," according to the International Tsunami Information Center."Waves will impact the coastline," said Renato Solidum, director of the volcanology institute. "Sometimes, if there are boats or structures there, these can be destroyed."

Taal Volcano is the Philippines' second most active volcano.
Kester Ragaza/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
Taal Volcano is the Philippines' second most active volcano.

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On Sunday, footage from the volcano showed an impressive display of rare volcanic lightning as night fell, at about 6pm local time.

Tens of thousands are expected to evacuate from nearby cities and towns. The Philippine Red Cross deployed thousands of volunteers and at least nine ambulances in three surrounding provinces.

"Senior citizens must be taken care of, especially those with respiratory diseases," said Richard Gordon, a senator who serves as chairman of the Philippine Red Cross.

Lightning strikes as a column of ash surrounds the crater of Taal Volcano.
Ezra Acayan/Getty Images
Lightning strikes as a column of ash surrounds the crater of Taal Volcano.

Ash clouded visibility on highways and coated cars and streets as far as Manila. Flights to and from the capital were cancelled as ash accumulated on the runways. Monday's Philippine Airlines flights to-and-from Auckland and Manila have been cancelled. Drugstores quickly run out of face masks.

From her residence in Lipa City in Batangas, Kristienne Amante, 22, said the air smells "like sulphur and there's a constant rumble in the distance"

There are warnings that a hazardous eruption could take place anytime.
Ezra Acayan
There are warnings that a hazardous eruption could take place anytime.

She said her family had just evacuated from a lakeside municipality and had noted that there were only "minutes between quakes".

Yvette Herras, 54, said her house in the town of Silang in Cavite province was right in the danger zone. By the time she, her husband and three of their children left, there was no electricity or clean water.

Rare volcanic lightning as night fell, at about 6pm local time.
Kester Ragaza/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
Rare volcanic lightning as night fell, at about 6pm local time.

"Our umbrellas are filled with mud. It was scary, the air was orange (and) grey," Herras said, speaking in English. "We could hear explosions, thunder-like - We decided to leave because it was impossible to get out if we decide to go later." It took the family four hours to reach Manila, hitching a jeepney ride and then catching a bus. Herras said her daughter lives in the city, and they were spending the night with her.

The Philippine Institute of of Volcanology and Seismology has raised the alert level to four out of five.
Ezra Acayan
The Philippine Institute of of Volcanology and Seismology has raised the alert level to four out of five.

"It's still shocking for us," she said. "When it erupted, we were watching a post-apocalyptic movie."

According to the Nasa Earth Observatory, Taal consists of multiple stratovolcanoes. Its primary feature is the three-mile-wide Volcano Island, which has 47 craters and sits in a lake.

Taal volcano is a tiny volcano near the Philippine capital, Manila.
Bullit Marquez
Taal volcano is a tiny volcano near the Philippine capital, Manila.

The volcano has 33 recorded eruptions, the latest of which was in 1977.

Residents use plastic bags to shield themselves from ash mixed with rainwater.
Ezra Acayan
Residents use plastic bags to shield themselves from ash mixed with rainwater.
Officials temporarily suspended flights in Manila.
Aaron Favila
Officials temporarily suspended flights in Manila.

 

Washington Post