Thousands Evacuated After Taal Volcano Spews Ash in Philippines

Ash from Taal volcano covered several neighbouring areas

(Photo: AP)

Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam

Video Producer: Rupsha Bhadra

Red-hot lava gushed out of a volcano near the Philippine capital Manila on Monday, 13 January, 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 kilometers (62 miles) north of the Taal volcano, 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. A truck, however, skidded out of control and fell on its side on an ash-blanketed road, killing the driver and injuring three companions in southern Laguna province in an accident police said may be linked to the slippery road conditions.

The government’s disaster-response agency and other officials reported more than 30,000 villagers have fled their homes in the hard-hit province of Batangas and nearby Cavite province, but officials expect the number to swell with hundreds of thousands more moving out of harm’s way.