Philippines: Over 30,000 Affected By Taal Eruption

The Taal Volcano in the Philippines has affected over 30,000 people while the authorities declared state of calamity in the Batangas province, the affected region, local media said on Tuesday.

A total of 6,891 families or 30,423 people have so far been affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano, according to the state-run Philippine News Agency (PNA).

The local authorities have established 118 evacuation centers where 18,187 people have been shifted so far.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the affected people arrived from 22 towns of Batangas province.

The council is still to release any figures relating to casualties and damage, the PNA added.

The agency said that a total of 286 volcanic earthquakes, ranging from magnitude 1.2 to 4.1, were recorded in the Taal region as of 2 a.m. local time Tuesday (1800GMT Monday).

Meanwhile, the authorities have declared a state of calamity in the affected province of Batangas as the residents are still fleeing from the region.

Provincial Vice Governor Mark Leviste said local officials made the decision to declare a state of calamity as the province is under emergency situation, the Philippine Star, a local daily, reported.

Under a state of calamity, the provincial government can utilize over $1 million in emergency funds to help the affected people. -