Over 1,000 flee from erupting volcano

(Screenshot from Phivolcs video)
(Screenshot from Phivolcs video)

MORE than 1,000 individuals have evacuated due to the increase unrest of Taal Volcano, the National Disaster Risk and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Friday, July 2, 2021.

The NDRRMC said 13 barangays in the towns of San Nicolas, Laurel, Agoncillo, Taal, Tanauan and Balete are affected.

A total of 345 families or 1,392 individuals were affected. Of the total, 317 families or 1,282 individuals are being housed in evacuation centers. The rest are staying with relatives.

Eleven facilities, including a covered court and public schools in the towns of Agoncillo, Balete, Laurel and Nasugbu, serve as evacuation centers.

The agency said the number of evacuees may increase to 3,523 families or 14,495 individuals.

This is the total number of people living in high-risk barangays in the towns of Agoncillo and Laurel in Batangas.

Calabarzon Police Regional Office Director Eliseo Cruz said he has ordered the Batangas Provincial Police Office to activate its Provincial Disaster Management Task Group and Special Task Groups on security, peace and order, emergency response and quick reaction teams.

These groups will assist the police in affected localities, ensure security and order in evacuation centers, and strictly enforce health protocols against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Cruz directed the Laguna and Cavite Provincial Police Offices to activate their disaster management control points to discourage non-residents, especially tourists, from going to Tagaytay and other affected areas.

Volunteers or donors of relief goods are advised to proceed directly to the Batangas Provincial DRRMO hub.

The Calabarzon Disaster Incident Management Task Group has also been activated in case the situation worsens.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Major General Edgard Arevalo also said personnel, vehicles and equipment from the 2nd Infantry Division and the Philippine Air Force’s 730th Combat Group were deployed in the affected municipalities.

He said other units of Southern Luzon Command were ready to provide augmentation.

“We have placed more personnel on alert and ready for immediate deployment. Communications equipment was also deployed. Other AFP units were constituted as disaster response teams (DRTs) including officer-led reservists with equipment were placed on standby alert and propositioned at Fernando Airbase in Lipa City,” Arevalo said. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)

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