A volcano near the Philippine capital burst with a huge column of ashes and steam on Sunday, causing thousands of people to flee and officials to close Manila's main international airport.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said that the Taal volcano in Batangas province, south of Manila, threw steam, ashes and pebbles up to 9 miles into the sky.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, but authorities rushed to evacuate more than 6,000 villagers from an island in the middle of a lake, where the volcano is located, and tens of thousands more of nearby coastal towns, authorities said.
International and domestic flights were suspended at the Manila International Airport.
