Half of the 89 evacuees who escaped from their evacuation camp in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, on Monday have returned.
Forty-five of them are back at their evacuation camp at the La Castellana Senior High School, John de Asis, head of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office of La Castellana, said on Thursday, July 3.
The evacuees escaped on Monday to return to their homes within Kanlaon Volcano’s 6-kilometer expanded danger zone in Barangay Cabagnaan, La Castellana.
However, living within the danger zone is still prohibited.
De Asis said the 45 voluntarily returned and they are convincing the rest of their companions to do the same.
Those who return to the danger zone during the 10-hour daytime window for farming activities have to present authorization letters at checkpoints to enter, de Asis said.*