Philippines volcano spews ash and steam

Ash and steam spews from Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon province, Philippines (Karlyn Dupan Hamor/AP)

A volcano south-east of the Philippines capital spewed ash and steam about half a mile into the sky in a brief steam-driven explosion on Sunday, scattering ash in nearby villages and alarming residents, officials said.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the alert level at Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon province following the 17-minute blast but added that there was no sign of an impending major eruption.