Massive Philippines volcano eruption sends ash 9

miles up, stunning images reveal

The Taal Volcano eruption in the Philippines on Sunday blasted ash plumes 9 miles into
the air, amazing new satellite imagery reveals. The volcano's eruption, which had not
happened in 40 years, caused travel disruptions and extreme weather events in and
around its location, south of the capital city of Manila.

All residents within a 9-mile radius were ordered to evacuate the area due to the high
risk for nasal and respiratory irritant, and so people need to avoid
inhaling it -which means if you are below an ash fall, stay indoors or
wear a mask. Going outdoors after ashfall, avoid kicking it up which
would reactivate the original hazard. You wouldn't want it in your eyes
either, as the particles are sharp.

Ash can carry poisons such as fluorine, and sheep in Iceland have died
from eating grass tainted by ash from local eruptions, but this does not
affect people directly.

Other problems that ashfall can cause include: stripping leaves from
vegetation, building up on roofs until they collapse, and turning into
devastating mudflows, called lahars, when the first heavy rainfall
occurs.