ZCZC
BFF-27
PHILIPPINES-VOLCANO
Philippines struggles to keep evacuees away from volcano
TALISAY CITY, Philippines, Jan 15, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Philippine authorities
were struggling Wednesday to keep thousands of evacuees from returning to
homes in areas threatened by a feared massive eruption of Taal volcano.
Some 40,000 people have taken refuge in shelters since the volcano let
loose a towering burst of ash and jets of lava on Sunday.
Police subsequently set up no-go zones and mandatory evacuations in at-
risk towns around Taal, which is about 65 kilometres (40 miles) south of
Manila.
But days later locals are losing patience and demanding access, even as
the nation’s seismological agency warns the volcano could unleash a more
powerful eruption at any time.
Melvin Casilao said he and his neighbours in the town of Talisay need to
feed their livestock, remove the thick ash from their roofs and pull their
boats from the water.
Their community is on the shore of a vast lake that rings Taal, a popular
tourist attraction despite being one of the nation’s most active volcanoes.
“We want to visit our houses and clean the roofs. They are smothered in
thick ash and they could collapse,” Casilao told AFP.
Soldiers have been deployed at checkpoints in some areas, including
Talisay, with police officer Sarah Jane Saballa saying: “It’s for the safety
of the residents.”
People around Taal had to leave at a moment’s notice, so many fled with
just the clothes on their back.
As the volcano has calmed slightly in the past 24 hours and is spewing
less ash, the temptation to return has grown.
Seismologists have noted a string of earthquakes and fissures opening up
in roads, indicating magma is still on the move and Taal remains very
dangerous.
However, some areas have made concessions, allowing people in for short
periods, despite the risks.
“These are residents appealing to us to allow them to feed their pets,”
said Gerry Malipon, San Nicolas town police chief.
“But after they’ve fed them, they will have to leave as soon as possible.”
BSS/AFP/MSY/1359 hrs