Pineapples Have Turned Gray In The Philippines From Ash Spewed By Taal Volcano

Parts of the Philippines have turned gray after the Taal volcano spewed lava and ash into the sky this week. Nearly 44,000 people have fled the nine-mile danger zone around the volcano, as a massive eruption is expected. 

The ash-fall that drifted from the volcano has damaged over $10.9 million worth of crops, the Department of Agriculture said, according to Reuters. Photos from the area show animals, plants, people and homes covered in the thick ash. 

Photos document the effects of volcanic ash in the Philippines

One particular photo has gained widespread attention. It shows farmer Jack Imperial with his destroyed pineapple crops, which are no longer green. The fruit now looks like charcoal. 

Imperial told Reuters this is the first time he has experienced such devastation in his 17 years as a framer. 

"We will not be able to harvest the pineapples that are already due for harvesting," he said. "We just have to accept that we will incur a loss. Even if we are able to harvest some pineapples, if customers are scared to come because of the eruption, the pineapples would just end up rotting." 

The ash has also effected other farmers growing pineapples, bananas and coffee nearby, Reuters reports.

The ash is threatening more than just crops. People have been advised to wear masks to protect from the ash, but supplies of the face coverings were running out, even in the capital, Manila. The sprawling capital city is only about 50 miles north of the volcano.

Photos show animal carcass buried in ash and residents trying to save other animals, hoisting some into boats to get them to safety.

Entire towns have been blanketed with the soot, and the Philippine government is implementing lock-downs in some towns surrounding the volcano. No casualties have been reported so far.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the alert level and warned that a hazardous eruption could take place any time. Authorities have evacuated tens of thousands of people from the area.