Updated Jan 13, 2020

Taal volcano in Philippines erupting and triggering earthquakes

People ride outrigger canoes to reach their homes near the foot of Taal volcano as it spews ash south of Manila on Monday. Photo: Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images

The Philippines' Taal volcano has been erupting 40 miles south of the Manila and triggering at least 52 earthquakes and ashfall across the region, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said in a statement Monday.

What's happening: Manila's international airport suspended flights and schools canceled classes across the region because of ash from the eruption, as the alert level was raised to 4 out of 5.

Towns surrounding the volcano were evacuated on Sunday, according to the UN's Philippines office.
Motorists should drive with "extreme caution" because of poor visibility from the ash, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology warned.

The big picture: Some 450,000 people live within the nine-mile danger zone of the volcano, per the UN.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

Go deeper

Rebecca Falconer

In photos: Taal volcano eruption forces thousands to flee in Philippines

Residents clean the roof of their home covered in mud and ash from the nearby Taal volcano. Photo: Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images

The Taal volcano eruption has turned parts of the Philippines gray with ash, as ensuing earthquakes continue and the threat of a bigger explosion remains.

What's happening: The threat level of an imminent hazardous eruption remained at 4 out of 5 Thursday, per the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, which urged people to "guard against the effects of heavy and prolonged ashfall." The Philippine Seismic Network has recorded over 500 quakes since the first eruption Sunday.

See photosUpdated Jan 16, 2020

Rebecca Falconer

Coronavirus: First reported death outside of China

Filipinos line up to buy face masks in Manila on Friday. Photo: Ezra Acayan/Getty Images

A 44-year-old man — who was a Wuhan resident but died in the Philippines Saturday — has become the first person outside of China to die from the novel coronavirus, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed in a statement.

This is the first reported case outside of China. However, we need to keep in mind that he came from Wuhan, China."

— Statement by Rabi Abeyasinghe, WHO representative in the Philippines

Go deeperUpdated Feb 2, 2020 - Health

Rebecca Falconer

Puerto Rico hit by magnitude-5.0 earthquake

Workers clean the debris from the Immaculate Conception Church after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit Guayanilla, Puerto Rico on Jan. 11. Photo: Pedro Alejandro Granadillo Hernanadez/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

A magnitude-5.0 earthquake struck the southern coast of Puerto Rico Saturday, per the U.S. Geological Survey.

The big picture: Gov. Wanda Vázquez declared a state of emergency on Jan. 7 after two earthquakes measuring magnitudes of 6.4 and 5.8 hit the U.S. territory. The island has been rocked by a series of tremors since.

Go deeperUpdated Jan 26, 2020