The Taal volcano in the Philippines, south of the capital Manila, erupted, releasing steam over 2 kilometers into the air, according to the country’s seismology service.

Taal, situated approximately 70 kilometers south of Manila, is one of the world’s smallest active volcanoes, and some of its previous eruptions have affected the capital and air travel.

Taal Volcano, nagkaroon ng pagsabog. @gmanewsbreaking @gmanews @dzbb pic.twitter.com/Mdp5ygTcH6

— peewee bacuño (@PeeweeBacuno) October 2, 2024

The head of the seismology service, Teresito Bacolcol, described the eruption as phreatomagmatic, meaning magma interacted with a water pocket, producing steam.

The volcano is located within a large lake near the city of Tagaytay, in Cavite province.

📣 Pinapayuhan ang publiko na huwag pumunta sa Taal Volcano Island para sa kanilang kaligtasan. ⚠️

1️⃣ Nananatili ang Taal Volcano Alert Level 1.

💨 Umabot ang taas ng plume ng 2,400 metro at posibleng may kasamang ashfall o abo ito sa northeast ng bulkan.

— Earth Shaker PH (@earthshakerph) October 2, 2024

“This phreatomagmatic eruption was contained to the volcanic island. We are checking for any ashfall on the eastern side, but no evacuations are underway,” Bacolcol said over the phone. He added that the alert level remains at the lowest tier, and there are no immediate reports of injuries.

Though the volcano stands at just 311 meters tall, it can be dangerous. Its 1911 eruption claimed the lives of over 1,300 people.

In January 2021, thousands of people were forced to evacuate after gas emissions and ash reached a height of 1 kilometer.

A year earlier, ash and smoke from Taal reached a height of 15 kilometers, forcing over 100,000 people to flee their homes and causing widespread disruptions in the capital.