Phivolcs lowers Taal alert status to 3, evacuees return home

Hundreds of evacuees returned to their homes in Batangas after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) lowered the Taal Volcano's alert status from level 4 to level 3.

The Batangas provincial government lifted lockdowns on 12 cities and municipalities within the volcano's danger zone, allowing residents to choose whether to return home or stay in evacuation centers.

Despite the lowered alert level, some residents expressed mixed feelings about returning to ash-ridden houses and facing the continued threat of the volcano.

The towns of Agoncillo and Laurel remain under lockdown as they are within the 7-kilometer danger zone, and the volcano island itself is on permanent lockdown.

Approximately 90 percent of the displaced residents, specifically those living outside the seven-kilometer danger zone, were expected to return to their houses.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that about 273,540 residents may be able to go back to their homes.

Returning residents were advised to be ready for sudden evacuation if the alert level is raised again and to limit the presence of children, the elderly, and sick individuals.

Some evacuees chose to remain in evacuation centers due to ongoing concerns about fissures and damaged houses.