PortandTerminal.com, January 11, 2020

Officials have raised the danger level around Taal near Manila to level 4, indicating “a hazardous eruption may happen within hours or days

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Officials in the Philippines are evacuating residents and watching for a tsunami after the Taal volcano has spewed a massive column of ash.

The Taal Volcano is located just 40 miles away from Manila, the capital of the Philippines and home to the nation’s main port.

Evacuations underway
Evacuations underway

Steam-driven eruptions point toward “a hazardous explosive eruption” of the Taal Volcano, located about 40 miles south of Manila, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology in an advisory Sunday, recommending a total evacuation.

Large cloud of ash from volcano eruption seen in distance. Ocean in foreground — Photo: Kenji Cheow

“Flight operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have been temporarily suspended due to the volcanic ash from the eruption of Taal Volcano,” the Manila International Airport Authority tweeted.