Taal Volcano in the Philippines spewed out gas during a phreatomagmatic burst on Saturday morning, authorities said.

Video taken in Batangas province on March 26 shows the volcano releasing plumes of white vapour, terrifying locals in surrounding villages.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has hoisted Alert Level 3 indicating ‘high levels of volcanic unrest.’

It said in a statement: ‘At 7:22 am PST, Taal Volcano Main Crater generated a short-lived phreatomagmatic burst which was followed by nearly continuous phreatomagmatic activity that generated 1500-m plumes accompanied by volcanic earthquake and infrasound signals.

‘In view of the above, DOST-PHIVOLCS is now raising the alert status of Taal from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 3. This means that there is magmatic intrusion at the Main Crater that may further drive succeeding eruptions.’

The national disaster council said communities in five barangays within a seven-kilometre radius from the volcano’s crater have been evacuated.

Taal Volcano had been at Alert Level 2 since July 2021.

A phreatomagmatic burst is an eruption caused by magma and water interacting with each other, leading to an ejection of both steam and pyroclastic material, the United States Geological Survey said.