MANILA, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Philippine volcanologists on
Sunday lowered the alert status of a volcano near the Philippine
capital to 3 from 4 to indicate a "decreased tendency towards
hazardous explosive eruption".
Authorities also narrowed the exclusion zone around the Taal
volcano, which sits in the middle of a lake about 70 km (45
miles) from Manila, to seven kms from 14 kms (4-8 miles).
However, authorities said the lowering of the danger level
"should not be interpreted that unrest has ceased".
Taal began spewing clouds of ash on Jan. 12. More than
100,000 people have been evacuated after their homes, schools
and farms were covered with ash.
Just 311 meters (1,020 feet) high, Taal is one of the
world's smallest active volcanoes. It killed more than 1,300
people in an eruption in 1911.