Nearly 600,000 Taal evacuees in Batangas

The eruption of Taal Volcano has forced nearly 600,000 residents of Batangas to evacuate their homes.

As of Thursday morning, 48,000 individuals were officially accounted for in evacuation centers, though the total number of internally displaced persons is higher when considering those staying with relatives.

Most evacuees are being sheltered by extended families in safe zones across Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Mindoro, and Metro Manila.

A total of 217 evacuation centers are open in various municipalities in Batangas and Cavite to accommodate the displaced population.

Cavite has declared a state of calamity to better manage and support evacuees seeking refuge in the province.

Significant numbers of residents from Lemery, Laurel, and Talisay in Batangas have relocated to Cavite.

While damage to crops and property is reported as minimal, the volcanic activity has disrupted the lives of a vast number of people.