Authorities issues warnings of “hazardous eruption” from Taal volcano

A “hazardous eruption” is expected “within hours or days” as a volcano has begun discharging lava from Taal volcano in the Philippines.

Authorities have notified that lava has started ejecting out of the Taal volcano.

The volcano is situated around 70km (45 miles) south of capital Manila in the Philippines.

Around 8,000 people have evacuated the area after the volcano spewed out big ash with echoing noise and tremors.

Over 450,000 people live within the 14km sensitive zone of Taal volcano.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) stated, “Taal volcano entered a period of intense unrest… that progressed into magmatic eruption at 02:49 to 04:28… this is characterized by weak lava fountaining accompanied by thunder and flashes of lightning,”

However, Phivolcs director Renato Solidum opposes the statement that any signs of eruption such as “flows of ashes, rocks, gas at speeds of more than 60 kph horizontally” had not been reported yet.

Phivolcs has given alert level from 3 to 4, from 5.

Officials have also predicted “volcanic tsunami” that can occur due to debris left after the eruption.

Taal is the second most active volcano of the Philippines and is one of the smallest volcanoes of the world.

Officials have recorded at least 34 volcanic eruption in the past 450 years at the Taal volcano.