'We have nowhere else to go... we've lost our homes': Villagers from Taal volcano island

Villagers from Taal volcano island must now find new livelihoods

Five days after Taal volcano roared back to life on Jan 12, residents returned to salvage what was left of their belongings. Many fled with just the clothes on their back.
Some residents sailed back to the island last Friday in the hope of salvaging important documents (left) and any of their other belongings that remained (below) after the destruction wrought by the eruption of the volcano last Sunday. Villages on the
Villages on the Taal volcano island in the Philippines were buried in ash after the volcano roared to life last Sunday, spewing steam, ash and rocks, which forced residents to flee the island. PHOTOS: CRISTINA MENINA FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES
Raul Dancel Philippines Correspondent On Taal Island, Talisay
Updated
Jan 24, 2020, 03:12 PM
Published
Jan 19, 2020, 05:00 AM
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A flotilla of about 60 boats sailed across a lake on Friday in a frantic effort to rescue horses and livestock that were left on a small island when Taal volcano roared to life with devastating fury last Sunday.

About 100 men went to the island that day, scouring a sprawling landscape of lifeless grey enveloped by the wafting stench of decay.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on January 19, 2020, with the headline 'We have nowhere else to go... we've lost our homes': Villagers from Taal volcano island. Subscribe

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