Taal evacuees return home

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Around 1,175 families or 4,036 people have returned home after state volcanologists lowered Taal Volcano’s alert status from Level 3 to 2.

Of the evacuees, 695 families or 2,353 people returned to Agoncillo town and 480 families or 1,683 people to Laurel, both in Batangas, according to Col. Glicerio Cansilao, provincial police director.

“Police officers and personnel of concerned government agencies secured and assisted the people in going home,” Cansilao said.

The evacuees started returning home at around 10 a.m. on Saturday after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) lowered the alert level.

Phivolcs cited the decrease of volcanic earthquakes and plume emissions in lowering the alert status.

“We thanked God for slowing down the volcano. Although the alert level has been downgraded, we should remain vigilant and ready. We have to follow the notices and guidelines of the authorities to ensure the safety of everyone,” Brig. Gen. Antonio Yarra, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon,) police director, told the evacuees.