Taal eruption evacuees face mud, tremors during harrowing escape

Residents near Taal Volcano faced harrowing experiences during their evacuation as they dealt with tremors, mud rains, and fallen trees following the eruption.

Thousands of Batangas residents fled their homes following the phreatic eruption of the Taal Volcano on Sunday.

The journey from the towns of Talisay and Tanauan, two areas heavily affected by ashfall and earthquakes, was an ordeal for evacuees as they made their way to the National Shrine of St. Padre Pio in Santo Tomas.

The local government declared a forced evacuation of the entire 45,000 population of Talisay, but the thick mud formed by combined rain and ashfall has made it difficult for rescuers to reach the upland barangays.

Santo Tomas now serves as a haven for more than 7,000 evacuees from different municipalities, with the local government expecting more arrivals in the following days.

Some families had to wait until daybreak to evacuate because visibility was poor due to mud and darkness.

The eruption caused significant damage, with fallen trees coated in ash and reports of dead livestock in areas like Balete, Batangas.

Authorities prioritized the evacuation of residents from Talisay and Agoncillo towns, while roads in Calabarzon were closed due to heavy ashfall.

Evacuation centers faced challenges, with the Santo Tomas Disaster Risk Reduction Management office highlighting the need for beddings as evacuees were sleeping on cardboard.

Religious leaders offered prayers for the calming of the volcano and the safety of the people, extending solidarity to OFWs from Batangas in Italy.