The Philippine National Police said Monday it would deploy additional personnel and relief aid to Luzon towns blanketed by ash from Taal Volcano, as authorities warned of a possible "explosive eruption."

Taal, a popular tourist attraction set in the center of a picturesque lake, spewed on Sunday a massive ash cloud that drifted across parts of Luzon, forcing the cancellation of flights and closure of schools and government offices.

The police said it is deploying 7 trucks that can carry up to 80 people per trip for the evacuation.

PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa said police commanders will assess which additional assets should be sent to areas threatened by Taal.

"Magpapadala kami ng tropa, sasakyan at mga relief goods na maiipon namin," Gamboa told radio DZMM.

(We will send troops, vehicles and relief goods that we will be able to collect.)

As of 4:30 a.m., Taal spawned at least 75 earthquakes, a sign that magma is likely moving towards its crater, said Phivolcs volcano monitoring division chief Ma. Antonia Bornas.

"Mayroon pa po tayong maaaring kinakaharap na mas hazardous po na eruption... Sa historical eruptions po ng Taal, pangkaraniwan po iyong climactic phase, itong pinakadulo po ng eruption, ito po iyong pinakamalala," she told radio DZMM.

(We could still be facing a possibly more hazardous eruptions. Based on Taal's historical eruptions, the climactic phase towards the end is the worst.)

• 'Hazardous Taal eruption' possible as dozens of volcanic quakes strike: Phivolcs

DZMM, Jan. 13, 2020