2,429 individuals evacuated from Batangas due to Taal Volcano eruption —PDRRMO

At least 2,429 individuals have evacuated from their homes in Batangas due to the recent Taal Volcano eruption, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PRDRRMO) chief said Saturday afternoon.

“Mayroon nang record na tumaas ang bilang ng evacuees. Nakita namin na maraming ‘di nagpunta sa evacuation center at pumunta sa kani-kanilang mga pamilya sa labas ng Batangas,” PDRRMO chief Lito Castro said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(We have recorded an increase in the number of evacuees and we saw that most of them did not go to the evacuation centers but to their relatives living outside Batangas.)

“Ngayon ay may 2,429 individuals na nag-evacuate,” he added.

(Right now, there are 2,429 individuals who evacuated.)

The Police Regional Office IV-A (PRO4A) earlier said a total of 1,686 people or 380 families were evacuated so far.

Most of the evacuees are from the municipalities of Agoncillo and Laurel.

The Philippine Coast Guard and personnel of the Philippine Red Cross are among those assisting in the evacuations.

Some residents of Tanauan and Balete, Batangas also evacuated from their residences.

Castro added that the Office of Civil Defense in Region IV-A or Calabarzon has been discussing the possibility of allowing some fishermen to continue fishing activities amid the continuous unrest of Taal Volcano.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Saturday maintained Alert Level 3 over Taal Volcano after recording 48 volcanic earthquakes since 5 a.m. Friday. 

In its daily bulletin, PHIVOLCS said it monitored high-level activities of the volcano, including 48 volcanic earthquake and three phreatomagmatic eruptions since 5 a.m. on Friday.

PHIVOLCS reiterated that Taal Volcano Island should be kept off limits and entry to high-risk areas namely Agoncillo and Laurel should be barred. —KG, GMA News