Evacuees told to stay put as Philippine volcano 'recharges'
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Evacuees affected by the eruption of Taal volcano sifting through donated clothes yesterday at an evacuation centre in Batangas province, south of the Philippine capital Manila. Seismologists have warned that the volcano could imminently unleash a much bigger eruption, posing a deadly risk to anyone in the 14km radius "danger zone" that surrounds it.
PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
TANAUAN (Batangas) • The Philippine authorities have ordered a crackdown on evacuees' daily visits to their homes in the danger zone around Taal volcano as scientists warned it could be "recharging" for a more powerful explosion.
More than 110,000 people have taken refuge in evacuation centres since Taal burst to life a week ago, but many hard-hit towns have let residents back for hours each day to fetch items, feed livestock and clean up their houses.
"We are directing DRRMCs (civil defence officers)... not to allow anyone to enter the danger zone," said Mr Epimaco Densing, undersecretary at the Interior Department.
"It's dangerous, that's why we have imposed a lockdown," he told reporters yesterday.
The volcano shot ash 15km high in the Jan 12 eruption, which crushed scores of homes and killed livestock as well as crops.
However, seismologists have warned that the volcano could imminently unleash a much bigger eruption, posing a deadly risk to anyone in the 14km radius "danger zone" that surrounds it.
Continued earthquakes and an increase in the volcano's emission of sulphur dioxide gas were possible indications of a "recharge" of magma, which would drive a major blast, a top scientist said.
"We consider these are signs that there's a re-supply of magma which could... cause an eruption that could be strong," Dr Renato Solidum, head of the Philippines' seismological agency, told a local radio station.
Until experts deem the threat has passed, evacuees will need to remain at the shelters spread across some 400 sites that range from school campuses to covered basketball courts.
Conditions vary between sites, but several evacuees have said they were getting food and a place to sleep, adding that bathrooms were in high demand.
"It's really difficult to take a bath or use the toilet because of the sheer numbers (of evacuees), but we can take it," said Ms Sonia Awitan, 55. "What is important is we have a place to shelter and sleep in."
The authorities say they have so far been able to provide fundamental services to the evacuees, but are concerned about the longer term.
"We can handle the (current evacuee numbers)," said Mr Alex Masiglat, spokesman for disaster relief in the ground zero Calabarzon region. "Our concern is how are we going to sustain a long-term evacuation period," he added.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE