Philippines: Thousands flee after Volcano Taal spews ash, airport shuts down

A small volcano south of the Philippine capital that draws many tourists for its picturesque setting in a lake erupted with a massive plume of ash and steam Sunday. (Source: AP)

The volcano named Taal blasted steam, ash and pebbles up to 10 to 15 kilometers into the sky in a dramatic escalation of its growing restiveness, which began last year, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said. (Source: AP)

The volcanology institute raised the danger level around Taal three notches on Sunday to level 4, indicating "a hazardous eruption may happen within hours or days. Level 5, the highest, means a hazardous eruption is underway and could affect a larger area. (Source: AP)

Residents evacuate as Taal Volcano erupts. (Source: AP)

Authorities scrambled to evacuate more than 6,000 villagers from an island in the middle of a lake, where the volcano lies, and tens of thousands more from nearby coastal towns, officials said. (Source: AP)

International and domestic flights were suspended Sunday night at Manila's international airport "due to volcanic ash in the vicinity of the airport" and nearby air routes, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said. (Source: AP)

Heavy to light ashfall was reported in towns and cities several kilometers (miles) from the volcano, and officials advised residents to stay indoors and don masks and goggles for safety. (Source: AP)

Lightning flashes as Taal Volcano erupts. (Source: AP)

Hotels, shopping malls and restaurants line an upland road along a ridge overlooking the lake and the volcano in Tagaytay city, a key tourism area that could be affected by a major eruption. (Source: AP)

About 20 typhoons and other major storms each year also lash the Philippines, which lies between the Pacific and the South China Sea, making it one of the world's most disaster-prone countries. (Source: AP)