Taal Volcano evacuees in Lemery, Batangas returning home

Evacuees from Lemery, Batangas on Sunday returned home immediately after the local government announced they may opt to go back to their areas, as the alert status in Taal was lowered to Alert Level 3.

According to a report by Allan Gatus on Dobol B sa News TV, returning evacuees began cleaning their ash-covered homes after Taal Volcano's phreatic eruption on January 12.

#BantayBulkan: Mga residente ng Lemery, Batangas, pinayagan ng makabalik sa kani-kanilang bahay matapos na ibaba sa alert level 3 mula sa alert level 4 ang Bulkang Taal. | via @allangatus pic.twitter.com/qBpidgK7NZ

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 26, 2020

The evacuees said they have not checked their houses for a week and upon going back, some of them opened their stores.

But they appeal to authorities to restore their water and power supplies so they can live normally again in their community.

Early on Sunday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) downgraded the status of Taal Volcano to Alert Level 3 from Alert Level 4.

Residents of at least 12 towns and cities in Batangas province, which are not within  the seven-kilometer danger zone, have been allowed to go home, but those who want to remain in evacuations centers could stay. 

From 14-kilometer radius, the danger zone was reduced to seven-kilometer radius covering only Agoncillo, Laurel and some portions of Tanauan City, according to PHIVOLCS director Renato Solidum Jr.

“Ang ating recommendation, dapat ‘yung mga lugar na malapit sa volcano, sa lawa, at sa lupa within the seven-kilometer radius ay walang tao,” he said in a press briefing.

He advised local government chiefs to assess the damage in their respective areas before letting residents to go back to their homes, “Kung may babalikan pa sila.”

“Mag-assess ng damages sa mga bahay, lupa at mga kalasada. Palakasin ang kahandaan at contingency planning,” Solidum added.

In case an Alert Level 4 is raised again in the volcano, residents should leave their areas within an hour. —Joviland Rita/LBG, GMA News