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Bulusan's ash column is about a kilometer high
Photo: Karlyn Dupan Hamor / dpa
The Bulusan volcano in the east of the Philippines ejected an ash column about a kilometer high on Sunday.
In light of the mountain's activity on the island of Luzon, authorities raised the alert level from 0 to one, which corresponds to a low level of "restlessness."
The State Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) also called on residents not to stay in the four-kilometer-wide permanent danger zone around the volcano in Sorsogon province.
Initially, however, there were no evacuations, as the national civil protection authority announced.
Despite the clouds, the column of ash could be seen from the nearby town of Juban, the Phivolcs bulletin said.
Ashfall was reported in Juban and in the town of Casiguran.
Photos show that palm trees and buildings are covered in white dust.
Residents of seven surrounding villages are being asked to stay indoors and wear face masks.
Drivers and motorcyclists should drive carefully.
The volcano reportedly ejected ash for about 17 minutes.
Bulusan is one of the 24 active volcanoes in the Philippines.
It has erupted 15 times since 1885, most recently in June 2017. It is a popular tourist destination and known for its hot springs.
According to the authorities, 14 people with four guides were on the 1565-meter-high volcanic mountain during the eruption, reports the AP news agency.
They would therefore have reached the nearby town in good time and safely.
Airplanes were instructed to fly a wide area around the volcano.
It is located around 500 kilometers south of the capital Manila.
kry/dpa/AP