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Outside the permanent danger zone, the volcanology institute warned people including those living on the vulnerable southeastern side of the volcano to stay alert “due to the increased possibilities of sudden and hazardous phreatic eruptions.”

The initial stages of Taal’s current eruption were, in fact, such steam-driven, or phreatic, ones, and they sent ash high into the sky.

The phreatic explosion and ash plume were visible from the nearby city of Tagaytay, a popular spot for viewing the volcano and where tourists flock during weekends.

"It's possible that there's no magma involved, that it's just a phreatic eruption - a steam eruption. We don't know yet."

The disaster agency said communities around the mountain should be aware it could have a “phreatic” or steam-blast eruption that expels gas and ash without warning.