MANILA, Philippines — Several Southern Tagalog towns and Metro Manila cities experienced ashfall after Taal Volcano erupted on Sunday, with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warning that another “hazardous” eruption is imminent.

Classes in all levels have already been suspended from nearby provinces and so with commercial flights at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Mass evacuation is also underway at nearby towns of Taal.

Taal spewed ash and rocks a kilometer high yesterday afternoon, forcing Phivolcs to raise the volcano’s alert level to 4, meaning that a hazardous eruption could happen anytime.

“Taal Volcano’s main crater has escalated its eruptive activity, generating an eruption plume one kilometer high, accompanied by volcanic tremor and felt earthquakes in Volcano Island and barangays of Agoncillo, Batangas. Ashfall is currently being showered on the southwest sector of Taal,” Phivolcs said in a statement.

Various social media posts said ashfall hit the areas of Tagaytay and Silang, Cavite; Talisay, Batangas; Cabuyao, Laguna. Different cities in Metro Manila, such as Parañaque, Makati, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa and Taguig also said that ashfall also reached their respective areas.

Residents from the volcano’s danger zone were ordered evacuated by President Duterte, according to Malacanang.

“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has already given instructions to undertake measures necessary to place the people within the perimeter of Taal out of the danger zone,” said Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.

Panelo added that concerned national government agencies are now working closely with the provincial government of Batangas to ensure the safety of the residents.

Phivolcs said that entry into the island as well as high-risk barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel is now prohibited.

Classes in different local government units and flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) were suspended indefinitely as a precautionary measure.

According to Phivolcs, Taal’s last major eruption happened on Oct. 3, 1977. (Gerald Alayon/IAMIGO/Currentph.com)