Residents still in 14-kilometer danger zone on their own: police

January 23, 2020

Residents who chose to remain within the 14-kilometer danger zone around Taal Volcano at the end of the 48-hour deadline to vacate on Thursday are on their own.

Batangas police director Col. Edwin Quilates said they will no longer conduct rescue  if Taal erupts.

“Worse comes to worst we will not conduct rescue within the 14-kilometer radius,” he said in an interview over dzMM.

Quilates said this was the  instruction of Calabarzon police director Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., as they want to ensure the safety of the more than 500 police officers securing the outer edges of the danger zone.

At least 200 residents were forcibly evacuated from 12 towns and two cities but Quilates said only a few people remained inside the danger zone.

As the deadline lapsed at 5 p.m. policemen were relocated at 30 security control points along main roads at the outer edges to prevent people from getting inside the locked down areas. DMS