According to Sorsogon Gov. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, up to 216 people have been evacuated from their houses as a result of Sunday’s steam-driven eruption of the Bulusan Volcano.

According to Escudero, the majority of the evacuees were from Barangay Puting Sapa in Juban town. They have already been transported to another community, where they will remain for the foreseeable future.

Homeowners in other places affected by the ashfall, including Irosin town, were not need to leave, he added.

The governor stated that if Bulusan does not erupt over the next two to three days, the refugees will be sent home.

This choice, he stated, is based on their track record and experience, notably the 2017 volcanic eruption.

“Gusto na rin namang umuwi ng aming mga kababayan para magsimula na rin silang magkumpuni ng kanilang mga tahanan,” Escudero remarked.

“Nag-face-to-face [classes] na kami dito so apektado rin iyong mga bata. Of the 216 individuals that we evacuated, the majority of them are children under the age of 18,” he continued.

Earlier in the day, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) stated that around 60 families, or more than a hundred people, left their houses as a result of the eruption.

According to an advice released at noon, the vulnerable population comprises 50 families or 180 persons from Barangay Puting Sapa who were evacuated, the majority of them are “children, pregnant women, and old citizens.”

NDRRMC also stated that classes had been suspended at three Juban schools: Puting Sapa Elementary School, Sangkayon Elementary School, and Aog Elementary School.

The council stated that no one was dead or harmed as a result of the eruption.

The NDRRMC told LGUs that they had sufficient resources to continue their relief activities, but stressed that the national government and regional disaster council are also prepared to offer affected households with food, drinking water, and sanitary goods.

To prevent breathing fine ash thrown by the volcano, residents were urged to stay indoors and use face masks.

“Dahil tumahimik si Bulusan, we’re hoping that in a few days, a lot of the evacuated populations can go back home and resume their normal lives, but remain vigilant against any escalation of the volcano,” NDRRMC’s Mark Timbal stated.

Furthermore, relief supplies from Vice President Leni Robredo’s office are on their way to Sorsogon.

In an Instagram post, Robredo stated that the first batch of supplies, which were routed through her office’s flagship program Angat Buhay, were loaded into a truck on Sunday evening.