Manila

A volcano near the Philippine capital Manila erupted today, DPA reported.

About 45,000 people have already been evacuated due to the heavy smoke and in surrounding cities.

Taal volcano is located 66 kilometers south of Manila. Red-hot lava gushed out of a Philippine volcano Monday after a sudden eruption of ash and steam.

Schools and businesses shut across the Philippine capital on Jan. 13 as a volcano belched clouds of ash across the city and seismologists warned an eruption could happen at any time, potentially triggering a tsunami.

One person was killed and more than 160 were injured in fireworks incidents during the Christmas and New Year holidays in the Philippines, DPA reported.

The death toll rose to 41 people. Phanfone, which hit the islands on Thursday, caused severe flooding and destroyed hundreds of houses in several provinces.

Authorities regularly issue warnings that the drinking should be avoided.

At least 11 people have died and more than 300 were rushed to hospitals after drinking home-made coconut wine on Christmas celebrations in the Philippines.

Greece's Foreign Affairs ministry on Tuesday said it is monitoring closely the case of the November 4 abduction by gunmen of a Greek crew member of Greek-flagged tanker Elka Aristotle off the coast of Togo, a West African nation on the Gulf of Guinea.

Hundreds of school pupils took part in a demonstration against climate change outside Parliament in downtown Athens on Friday.

 The death toll from a storm that struck the Philippines shortly after Christmas rose to 68 with the number of fatalities expected to climb even higher, civil defence officials said Monday.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A Filipino soldier, five militiamen and four villagers were killed by a powerful bomb that exploded in a van the troops were inspecting Tuesday amid threats of bombings in a southern province, military officials said.

Residents watch as Mayon volcano spews ash at a tourist spot near Cagsawa ruins in Daraga in Albay province, south of Manila yesterday.