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.