2,000 evacuees affected by Taal activity

Belongings of residents living near Taal volcano are seen in a room after they evacuated to a public school in Laurel, Batangas, on March 26, 2022, after an eruption earlier in the morning sent ash and steam hundreds of meters into the sky. (Photo by JAM STA ROSA / AFP)

LUCENA CITY, Quezon, Philippines — Authorities in Agoncillo and Laurel towns in Batangas province have been on guard to ensure that no persons will be allowed to stay within Taal Volcano’s 7-kilometer danger zone.

Jun France de Villa, Agoncillo Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief, said 660 families (2,120 individuals) from Barangays Banyaga and Bilibinwang remained in evacuation centers as of noon on Sunday.

But the number was expected to rise as there were some evacuees who had momentarily gone home to check on their houses but had promised to return to their designated shelters, De Villa explained.

He said they were still verifying reports that some villagers had refused to leave the two barangays.

These hesitant residents would be “forced” to evacuate based on the recommendation of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) that these areas needed to be vacated after Alert Level 3 (magmatic unrest) was raised over the volcano shortly after it erupted early on Saturday.

Window hours

“Only one member of the family, preferably male, is allowed to return during window hours,” De Villa said.

Local authorities in Agoncillo have allowed the evacuees to return to their houses from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to check on their property, get some belongings, feed their animals and fish cages.

In a phone interview on Monday, Maj. Ronnie Aurellano, Agoncillo police chief, said policemen in the town have been conducting continuous patrols “to secure the personal properties of evacuees and to ensure that no one will be left behind in the villages.”

Maj. Arlan Perez, Laurel police chief, said the local government also provided an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. window for evacuees from Barangays Boso-boso, Gulod, and eastern Bugaan East, also located within a 7-km danger zone, to check on their properties.

Taal Volcano remains under alert level 3 as of Monday even as it recorded less activity, the state volcanology institute said on Monday, as it warned residents in high-risk areas to keep clear of the Volcano Island.

According to the Phivolcs’ 8 a.m. bulletin for Taal Volcano, which started becoming restive over the weekend, Taal Volcano Network did not detect any volcanic earthquake between March 27 and March 28.

Even so, the main crater was still “dominated by upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in its lake which generated plumes 1,000-meters tall that drifted southwest.”

Meanwhile, sulfur dioxide emissions continue to average 1,140 metric tons per day.

In keeping the Alert Level 3 hoisted over the volcano, Phivolcs said there was still magmatic intrusion at the main crater that can drive eruptions.

“The public is reminded that the entire Taal Volcano Island is a permanent danger zone,” it added.

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