Alarm grips Agoncillo residents as Taal spews thick steam

Several residents of Agoncillo, Batangas were seen leaving the town on motorcycles after an earthquake hit the area and the Taal Volcano spewed a tall column of thick, white steam early Friday morning.

"Eh, natatakot din po kaya nagmadali na po kaming lumabas. Inintay lang po naming lumiwanag kaonti. Pinakain lang po namin yung mga alaga naming hayop tas' umalis na rin kami agad," Dianne Williams said.

According to a Friday report by Raffy Tima on 24 Oras, amid the declaration of a danger zone, some residents remained defiant and slipped past police personnel to visit their property and feed their animals.

Authorities have blocked even small roads being used by residents to enter areas declared as danger zones.

Meanwhile, the staff of the Batangas Provincial Hospital was seen waiting outside the checkpoint of Lemery town proper to get medicines left in the hospital.

"'Yun po'ng ibang provincial hospital natin, syempre hindi naman po ma-sustain lahat iyon. So 'yung iba naming gamit na available na pwede nilang magamit, doon namin siya dadalhin," Margie Endaya, the hospital administrative officer, said.

Meanwhile, a mentally-disabled woman was seen lying on a carton in a waiting shed near the  hospital.

According to the report, residents and police personnel give food and water to the woman while awaiting rescue. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News