Thousands evacuated after steam and ash belch from volcano in Philippines

A plume of steam and ash is seen from Taal Volcano (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology – Department of Science and Technology via AP)

Thousands of villages are being evacuated after a small volcano near the Philippine capital belched a dark plume of steam and ash into the sky in a brief explosion.

Government experts said magmatic materials came into contact with water in the main crater of Taal Volcano in Batangas province, setting off the steam-driven blast.