THE number of people who have fled their homes due to the Taal Volcano’s magmatic unrest has increased to about 1,000 families, the Batangas Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said on Sunday, July 4, 2021.

"As of 5 a.m., mayroon tayong 1,000 pamilya at mahigit 3,000 indibidwal na inilikas at posible pa itong madagdagan," Batangas PDRRMO head Joselito Castro said in a radio interview.

He said over 400 families were staying with relatives while the rest were in 12 evacuation centers.

Castro said the provinces of Cavite, Laguna and Quezon are preparing to accept evacuees.

Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste said in a separate interview that they have requested for P10 million assistance from the national government to feed the evacuees and distribute hygiene kits as a measure against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

For easier contact tracing, evacuation centers in Agoncillo and Laurel in Batangas accept its residents only.

Leviste said the Department of Social Welfare and Development has already sent 200 tents. It will deliver 300 more to maintain physical distancing.

"Iwasan muna ang pagpunta sa Batangas kung hindi naman mahalaga ang lakad...Kahapon naitala ang pinakamataas na sukat ng sulfur dioxide emission sa Bulkang Taal. Maaari itong maging sanhi ng ubo at sipon o karamdaman lalo na sa mga nakapaligid sa Bulkang Taal," he said.

Read: Alert level raised over Taal as volcano erupts

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the Taal Volcano recorded the highest levels of volcanic sulfur dioxide or SO2 gas emission from its main crater on Saturday, July 3, 2021.

It said SO2 emission averaged 14,699 tonnes per day, the highest ever recorded in Taal, while upwelling in the main crater lake generated steam plumes that rose 2,500 meters above Volcano Island.

Phivolcs said elevated SO2 emission may be succeeded by eruptive activity at the main crater.

Alert Level 3 remains hoisted over Taal Volcano. Phivolcs recommended the evacuation of residents from Taal Volcano Island and high-risk barangays of Bilibinwang and Banyaga in Agoncillo, and Buso-buso, Gulod and eastern Bugaan in Laurel. (SunStar Philippines)