Philippine volcano spews ash and steam, evacuation underway

By JIM GOMEZ
Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A small volcano in a scenic lake near the Philippine capital has belched a white plume of steam and ash 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) into the sky in a brief but powerful explosion on Saturday. Authorities raised the alert level and more than 1,200 residents from high-risk villages near Taal Volcano in Batangas province south of Manila had evacuated to emergency shelters by noon. Renato Solidum of the government’s volcanology institute said it remains to be seen if Taal would suddenly grow more restive or settle down. It last erupted in 2020, displacing hundreds of thousands of residents.