Residents who fled Taal activity allowed to check on homes, animals

Residents who fled their homes after the Taal Volcano's phreatomagmatic burst on Saturday were allowed to return to check on their livestock on Monday.

According to Raffy Timas’ report on “24-oras”, local authorities have allowed the residents to check on their farm animals and property from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Efren, a fishpond caretaker in Laurel town, said he needed to harvest tilapia early in order for dealers to pick up the fish forthright.

He added that fish farmers requested the local government unit (LGU) to extend the window hour for them to harvest more fish.

“Kapag po kami sinisita kung bakit hapon na po, sasabihin po namin na ‘yung isda namin ay nasa Cavite pa,” Efren said.

Efren said the fishing community was still recovering from losses incurred during the eruption of Taal Volcano in 2020 and over the subsequent lockdowns due to the pandemic.

The fishermen were asking for help.

“Kung hindi man po sa pinansyal, e 'di po sa pagkain namin sa pang-araw-araw mabigyan kami. Malaking tulong na po iyon sa amin,” Efren stressed.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) earlier announced that some 3,850 individuals had been affected by the volcanic activity.

The NDRRMC said this was equivalent to more than 1,000 families living in 14 barangays in the towns of Agoncillo and Laurel in the province of Batangas.

Aside from Taal’s 7-kilometer danger zone, there were also evacuees from the towns of Talisay, Balete, and Cuenca.

Meanwhile, the Calabarzon Police Regional Office said it was keeping a close watch on areas left by the residents.

Taal Volcano’s alert status was raised to Level 3 on Saturday due to a phreatomagmatic eruption, an explosion that occurs when magma and water interact. —Mel Matthew Doctor/NB, GMA News