Evacuation crackdown ordered as Philippine volcano seethes

A woman standing before her house covered in ash by the eruption of the Taal volcano, near Agoncillo on January 20, 2020. - AFP

TANAUAN, Philippines (AFP): Philippine officials ordered a crackdown Monday (Jan 20) on people being allowed daily visits to the homes they fled after Taal volcano erupted, citing threats it could still explode at any time.

Over 110,000 people have taken refuge in evacuation centres since Taal burst to life a week ago, but many hard-hit towns have permitted people in to fetch items, feed livestock and clean up their houses.