Taal volcano spews ash and steam hundreds of metres into the sky on March 26. (AFP/VNA Photo)Manila (VNA) - The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on April 9 lowered the alert level for Taal volcano, 66km south of the capital region Manila, from 3 to 2. It warned that "sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, ash fall and lethal accumulations or bursts of volcanic gas can occur." On March 26, the institute raised the alert level to 3 for the volcano island in Batangas province following a phreatomagmatic eruption. The institute said it has recorded 86 small-magnitude and imperceptible volcanic earthquakes.