Spectacular photos show ash spewing from Philippine volcano

Ash has spewed from a volcano near the Philippine capital Manila, with authorities raising its alert to level four.

Photos of the eruption show plumes of thick smoke and steam billowing from the Taal volcano.

A restaurant customer who could see the volcano described it as a "spectacle".

"It rained and some small pebbles fell to the ground," Jon Patrick Yen told Reuters.

The volcano, located about 70km south of Manila, started spewing ash on Sunday (local time). About 8000 people are being evacuated.

CAVITE, PHILIPPINES - 2020/01/12: (EDITORS NOTE: Image taken by smartphone.) Taal Volcano in central island of Luzon and is the country's second most active volcano boomed to life on Sunday, spilling volcanic ash. Due to level 4 alert, government officials implemented preemptive evacuations in all nearby communities. (Photo by Kester Ragaza/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Photo credit: Getty
CAVITE, PHILIPPINES - 2020/01/12: (EDITORS NOTE: Image taken by smartphone.) Taal Volcano in central island of Luzon and is the country's second most active volcano boomed to life on Sunday, spilling volcanic ash. Due to level 4 alert, government officials implemented preemptive evacuations in all nearby communities. (Photo by Kester Ragaza/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Photo credit: Getty
TAGAYTAY, PHILIPPINES - JANUARY 12: A column of ash surrounds the crater of Taal Volcano as it erupts on January 12, 2020 as seen from Tagaytay city, Cavite province, Philippines. Local authorities have begun evacuating residents near Taal Volcano as it began spewing ash up to a kilometer high Sunday afternoon. The Philippine Institute of of Volcanology and Seismology has raised the alert level to four out of five, warning that a hazardous eruption could take place anytime. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Photo credit: Getty
TALISAY, PHILIPPINES - JANUARY 12: A vehicle covered in ash mixed with rainwater is seen as Taal Volcano erupts on January 12, 2020 in Talisay, Batangas province, Philippines. Local authorities have begun evacuating residents near Taal Volcano as it began spewing ash up to a kilometer high Sunday afternoon. The Philippine Institute of of Volcanology and Seismology has raised the alert level to three out of five, warning of the volcano's continued "magmatic unrest." (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Photo credit: Getty
TALISAY, PHILIPPINES - JANUARY 12: A resident covered in ash mixed with rainwater makes a phone call as Taal Volcano erupts on January 12, 2020 in Talisay, Batangas province, Philippines. Local authorities have begun evacuating residents near Taal Volcano as it began spewing ash up to a kilometer high Sunday afternoon. The Philippine Institute of of Volcanology and Seismology has raised the alert level to three out of five, warning of the volcano's continued "magmatic unrest." (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Photo credit: Getty
TALISAY, PHILIPPINES - JANUARY 12: Taal Volcano erupts as seen on January 12, 2020 in Talisay, Batangas province, Philippines. Local authorities have begun evacuating residents near Taal Volcano as it began spewing ash up to a kilometer high Sunday afternoon. The Philippine Institute of of Volcanology and Seismology has raised the alert level to three out of five, warning of the volcano's continued "magmatic unrest." (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Photo credit: Getty
Spectacular photos show ash spewing from Philippine volcano
Photo credit: Reuters