The Philippine government warned against going back to home around the Taal volcano as experts said there will be eruptions still in the coming days. However, some residents defied government orders to check if there is anything left of their homes and other properties.
A photographer and reporter from The New York Times accompanied some of the residents who wanted to have a better look of the remains of their belongings back home.
In a late Tuesday report, the outlet revealed that gray ash from the eruptions is knee-deep at the moment and ashes covered plants, trees, and the homes of people who constructed their homes in the area after the last eruption decades ago.
Boatman Melvin Mendoza went back to his home in Taal on Tuesday, informing the outlet that his "home is now gone." He said there were "happy memories" around the volcano. However, "everything's gone in the blink of an eye."
The Taal tourist office has also been covered in gray material. The said facility used to cater to around 2,000 tourists annually. Tourism was one of the key livelihoods of people in the area, especially for those who didn't know how to make a living out of fishing.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised the Alert Level to 4 on Tuesday, noting that residents who evacuated from the area should stay away for the coming days or even weeks due to potential succeeding eruptions.
Philippine authorities further warned on Tuesday that the volcano could continue spewing hazardous material for up to several weeks, local news network ABS-CBN News reported.
Around 30,000 people have evacuated the area. Some of the evacuees moved in with relatives in nearby towns while others had no choice but to make do with what local evacuation centers have to offer.
Domestic foundations have been calling on Filipinos and other countries to provide assistance for those affected by the Taal volcano's eruption. Charity groups have also gathered to determine which necessities are more important for evacuees at the moment.
The Philippine Red Cross helped evacuate residents safely while other relief foundations have been collecting donations for the affected families and individuals. Local celebrities have also joined hands in promoting relief operations.
Among the items that are critically needed by evacuees at this point, as posted on social media by the Philippine entertainment industry's Angel Locsin, are as follows: drinking water, noodles, canned goods, crackers, hygiene kits and toiletries, eco bags, and also N95 masks.
Manila on Tuesday started cracking down on stores and providers who have reportedly overpriced N95 masks as a shortage on the safety commodity has been apparent since the eruptions.
