Red-hot lava gushed out of a Philippine volcano Monday after a sudden eruption of ash and steam that forced villagers to flee and shut down Manila's international airport, offices and schools. There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage from Taal volcano's eruption south of the capital that began Sunday.

The death toll from this month's volcanic eruption in New Zealand has risen to 19 after police said that another person died at an Auckland hospital on Sunday night. There were 47-people visiting the tourist destination of Whakaari, also known as White Island, when the volcano erupted on 9-December, killing 13-people initially and leaving more than two dozen others hospitalized with severe burns.

An undersea volcanic eruption in the Tongan archipelago has sunk one island and created another three times larger, according to a report by geologists released Thursday. Taaniela Kula, of the Tonga Geological Service, said the new Lateiki island is estimated to be about 100 metres (110 yards) wide and 400 metres long, and is situated about 120 metres west of its submerged predecessor.