Terrified residents watched as the Taal Volcano spewed a 9,000ft smoke plume in the Philippines.

Footage shows the thick mushroom cloud rising as locals observed the steam-driven eruption from their homes in Batangas province on December 3.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the steam-driven eruption lasted four minutes.

The agency said in an advisory: 'The minor eruption was likely driven by sudden contact of water with a small batch of shallow magma.'

The volcanic activity was seen from homes from across the lake and traces of ash were reported in nearby villages.

Taal has been under Alert Level 1 since 2022, making the volcano island a permanent danger zone.

The Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands inside the Pacific 'Ring of Fire' where the majority of Earth's volcano eruptions and earthquakes happen.