Philippine volcano recharging, scientist says, as shops, hotels told to keep shut

Evacuees displaced by the eruption of the Taal volcano gathering inside an evacuation centre in Santo Tomas on Monday (Jan 20). Philippine authorities ordered a crackdown January 20 on evacuees' daily visits to homes in the danger zone around Taal volcano, amid a warning it could be "recharging" for a more powerful explosion. - AFP

MANILA: A restive volcano in the Philippines has a high risk of eruption as it is "recharging" with fresh magma and rising emissions of toxic gas, a top scientist said on Monday (Jan 20), while authorities ordered commercial establishments to stay shut.

Earthquakes were still happening at the Taal volcano, which shot giant clouds of ash miles into the air on Jan 12, and levels of the gas were rising, a sign of magma "recharging" and "resupplying" beneath it, a Philippine vulcanologist said.