Authorities catch residents sneaking back into Volcano Island

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard on Monday chanced upon residents of Taal's Volcano Island returning to their homes despite the government's declaration of the area as a no man's land.

According to Chino Gaston's report on "24 Oras", the PCG was setting up buoys that would serve as markers for the seven-kilometer permanent danger zone in the Taal Lake when they found boats approaching Volcano Island.

They learned that the owners of the boat were residents of San Nicolas who had returned to rescue their cows.

“Pilit natin sila pinapakiusapan na umalis para na rin sa kaligtasan nila kaya tayo narito. Ang Taal Volcano ay [on] total lockdown, walang makakapasok,” Seaman First Class Marnie Dadivas said.

The Coast Guard assisted the Volcano Island residents in retrieving their livestock and other items.

The alert level over the Taal Volcano was lowered from Level 4 (hazardous eruption imminent) to Level 3 (decreased tendency towards hazardous eruption) on Sunday morning. —Julia Mari OrnedoNB, GMA News