Homes evacuated near Philippines volcano

The Philippines has raised the alert status of a volcano near the capital Manila, after it spewed a kilometre-high phreamagmatic plume of gas and steam, sparking fears of further eruptions.

The alert for the Taal volcano, about 70km south of central Manila, was raised to level three, meaning "there is magmatic intrusion at the main crater that may further drive succeeding eruptions," the seismology and volcanology agency said.

Authorities ordered the evacuation of residents in the lakeside towns of Agoncillo and Laurel in Batangas province due to possible eruption hazards including a potential for a volcanic tsunami.

A phreatomagmatic eruption results from the coming together of magma and water, which typically interact explosively.

Taal is one of the world's smallest active volcanoes.

Despite standing at only 311 metres, it can be deadly - an eruption in 1911 killed more than 1300 people.

Taal spewed clouds of ash in January last year, prompting the evacuation of more than 100,000 people.