Volcano emits mud and smoke

Volcano emits mud and smoke

TAAL, Philippines (AFP): A volcano in this island in the center of a lake emitted mud and smoke on Saturday but there is no sign of an impending serious eruption, a government volcanologist said.

Taal volcano, 65 kilometers (40.6 miles) south of Manila, shot a white plume of sulfur dioxide about 12 meters (39.6 feet) into the air and hot mud erupted into the waters of a small lake at the center of the volcano, said volcanologist Orlando Guardacasa.

Although waters in one part of the lake reached 101.5 degrees Celsius (214.7 degrees Fahrenheit), seismological equipment on the volcano shows no sign of tremors and Guardacasa said a major eruption was not expected.

The 50,000 people living on the island and on the shores of the lake surrounding the island have not been ordered to evacuate.

Hotels surrounding the lake where the volcano is located have been advised not to bring tourists to the island for the time being.