Survivors of the Mount Pinatubo eruption relocated to a refugee camp near Manila , telling a tale of panic and flight . The eruption began with a great gray - greenish mushroom cloud that turned day into night . A rain of ash followed . Refugees even used cardboard boxes in an attempt to protect themselves from ash . Clouds of volcanic ash drifted towards the South China Sea . The last major eruption was the Taal volcano, about 50 miles south of Manila, in 1965. Seismologists warned that the crisis may not be over . They believe that the volcano has plenty of built - up magma and that more severe damage could follow . One news reporter described the huge eruption as being similar to a nuclear explosion .
Survivors of the Mount Pinatubo eruption relocated to a refugee camp near Manila , telling a tale of panic and flight . The eruption began with a great gray - greenish mushroom cloud that turned day into night . A rain of ash followed . Refugees even used cardboard boxes in an attempt to protect themselves from ash . Clouds of volcanic ash drifted towards the South China Sea . Seismologists warned that the crisis may not be over . They believe that the volcano has plenty of built - up magma and that more severe damage could follow . One news reporter described the huge eruption as being similar to a nuclear explosion .