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Ash-covered barangay in Agoncillo, Batangas resembles ghost town


 

Ash has blanketed the rooftops of houses, roads, and even the mountainside of Barangay Banyaga in Agoncillo, Batangas, turning the area into a ghost town in the wake of Taal Volcano's eruption on Sunday.

According to Chino Gaston's Wednesday report on 24 Oras, houses with collapsed roofs and broken windows could be seen in the area, while roads remained unusable due to the thick layer of ash covering it.

Spoiled fish from coolers left behind by residents littered the sides of the streets. Some carabaos were also found in the area, as well as a pig and its piglets.

Areas of Banyaga were also either flooded or filled with deep mud.

Though some residents braved returning to their homes to retrieve their items, they found that they had been robbed during the ordeal.

"Talagang ghost town na talaga, wala na. Nanakawan pa, ho," a resident said.

In the nearby town of Laurel, authorities blocked residents who attempted to return to their homes.

"Una po papakiusapan po namin sila kung sa maari wag nila ituloy ang kanilang binabalak. At kung sakali sila ay mag pumilit pa. Ipapaliwanag po natin sa kanila na masyado na po delikadong mag punta po dito at anytime po hindi natin alam ang susunod na mangyayari," a team leader said.

As residents were unable to return, the health of many animals in the area have begun to decline.

A pigsty at the border of Laurel and Agoncillo had collapsed, trapping the pigs inside with no source of food or water. — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News

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