CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Residents of seven areas in Batangas who evacuated at the height of Taal Volcano’s unrest have returned to their homes.
Data obtained by The STAR showed that there are no more residents of Lipa and Tanauan cities as well as Balete, Cuenca, Malvar, Sta. Teresa and Mataasnakahoy towns in evacuation centers.
Around 63 to 85 percent of evacuees in Taal, Laurel, Talisay, Lemery, Alitagtag and San Nicolas have also returned to their homes.
In Agoncillo, which is hardest hit by the volcano’s activity, 89 percent of residents remain in evacuation centers.
“Some parts of Batangas are in a state of normalcy. We assisted evacuees who wanted to return to their homes,” Capt. Hazel Luma-Ang-Suarez, Batangas police spokesperson, said.
Suarez said 13,874 people are still in evacuation centers.
The police and military continue to patrol the areas within the volcano’s seven-kilometer danger zone.
Brig. Gen. Marceliano Kit Teofilo, Task Force Taal commander, said 15 military trucks were deployed to transport returning evacuees.