Philippine authorities warned Sunday a
volcano near the capital Manila could erupt imminently, hours after it sent a massive column of ash skyward that grounded flights and coated towns across the region in fine dust.
![Flights halted, evacuations as Philippine volcano spews ash](http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/d4e2bb995aac0db21f3f41ad3a62e90cf0691e74.jpg)
Thousands of people living near Taal volcano, a popular tourist attraction set in the centre of a picturesque lake, were evacuated from their homes as it spewed ash, rumbled with earthquakes and lightning exploded above its crest.
Aviation officials ordered a suspension of flights in to and out of the capital's Ninoy Aquino International Airport, after the ash cloud was reported to have reached 50,000 feet (15,000 metres).