Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 26)— Over 200 families in Batangas have so far been evacuated after Taal Volcano erupted on Saturday, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
In an advisory, the OCD said that as of 11 a.m, 160 families (800 to 900 individuals) in Agoncillo and 81 families (222 individuals) in Laurel have already moved to safer grounds.
“Evacuation of communities are now being conducted due to possible pyroclastic density currents and volcanic seiches should stronger eruptions subsequently occur,” the OCD said.
The Social Welfare department and the provincial government will also roll out assistance — including food packs — for the affected communities, the agency added.
Alert Level 3 was raised over Taal after state volcanologists recorded a phreatomagmatic burst earlier in the day.
The Philippine Coast Guard, which evacuated residents from the area, observed that the volcano has calmed down as of noontime.
