Thousands flee after Philippine volcano Taal erupts south of Manila |

The Philippines' second-most active volcano, Taal, erupted on Thursday, blowing a one-kilometer-high (3,280-foot-high) plume of steam and ash into the sky.

The tiny volcano south of the capital, Manila, led officials to raise an alert level due to heightened risks to nearby villages. Magmatic materials came into contact with water in the main crater of Taal Volcano in Batangas province, government experts said. The activity set off the steam-driven blast with no accompanying volcanic earthquake, officials said, adding that it was still unclear if the unrest could lead to a full-blown eruption. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised the alarm to the third of a five-step warning system. "This means that there is magmatic intrusion at the main crater that may further drive succeeding eruptions," Phivolcs said. Alert level 5 means a life-threatening eruption that could endanger communities is underway.