Villagers attempt to salvage belongings as volcano remains restive

Deadliest catch: A fisherman paddling a bamboo raft at the foot of a mountain covered in mud and ash due to the eruption of the nearby Taal volcano in Laurel, Batangas. — AFP

LEMERY: A Philippine volcano that erupted last weekend belched smaller plumes of ash and shuddered continuously with earthquakes, prompting authorities to block access to nearby towns due to fears of a bigger eruption.

A crater lake and portions of a nearby river on the Taal volcano dried up in signs of its continued restiveness, and officials have warned people against speculating the five-day eruption is waning.