The Philippines' Taal volcano has been erupting 40 miles south of the Manila and triggering at least 52 earthquakes and ashfall across the region, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said in a statement Monday.
What's happening: Manila's international airport suspended flights and schools canceled classes across the region because of ash from the eruption, as the alert level was raised to 4 out of 5.
- Towns surrounding the volcano were evacuated on Sunday, according to the UN's Philippines office.
- Motorists should drive with "extreme caution" because of poor visibility from the ash, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology warned.
The big picture: Some 450,000 people live within the nine-mile danger zone of the volcano, per the UN.
PHIVOLCS director Renato Solidum said lava fountaining has been observed at the main crater of Taal volcano around 3:20 a.m. today. Alert level 4 remain meaning "hazardous explosive eruption is possible within hours to days." | via @alexsanjuan_MB pic.twitter.com/QdxZKvdMGv
— Manila Bulletin News (@manilabulletin) January 12, 2020
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
