Philippines’ Taal volcano, one year on – in pictures

A drone image shows damaged houses among volcanic ash deposits at Taal volcano in Batangas, Philippines. A year has passed since the volcano erupted

Photograph: Mark R Cristino/EPA
A church ruined by the volcano. Taal had been restive for months and suddenly it rumbled back to life a year ago, blasting steam, ash and pebbles up to nine miles (14.5km) into the sky

Photograph: Mark R Cristino/EPA
Damaged structures a year after the volcano erupted. Clouds of ash were blown more than 62 miles north of the Taal volcano, reaching the capital, Manila, forcing its main international airport to close and 500 flights to be cancelled

Photograph: Lisa Marie David/Reuters
A flock of birds. Many evacuees stayed in state-run emergency shelters for a while, then returned to the ash-blanketed towns and cities in Batangas province as the danger subsided

Photograph: Lisa Marie David/Reuters
A plant starts to grow from the ash

Photograph: Lisa Marie David/Reuters
Damaged houses among ash deposits. Initially, more than 13,000 villagers were moved to evacuation centres in Batangas and nearby Cavite

Photograph: Mark R Cristino/EPA
A basketball ring submerged among volcanic ash deposits

Photograph: Mark R Cristino/EPA
Damaged trees remain covered with ash. To begin with, some residents could not move out of ash-blanketed villages because of a lack of transport and poor visibility, while others are refusing to leave their homes and farms

Photograph: Lisa Marie David/Reuters
A woman stands near damaged houses

Photograph: Lisa Marie David/Reuters
Birds fly undisturbed near the volcano

Photograph: Mark R Cristino/EPA
The government bans former residents from returning. Some have found other housing, but about 50 families are still living in tents

Photograph: Aaron Favila/AP
An animal skull lies on the ground. Taal still rumbles, with small earthquakes and weak plumes of steam venting from its crater

Photograph: Lisa Marie David/Reuters