But the perilous situation did not deter some people from returning to their homes after they initially fled to safety. Some residents found ways to return to check on their livestock despite warnings of the dangers.

“We are asking assistance from the government to bring in more soldiers to help us control our residents who ignore warnings and go back,” said Wilson Maralit, the mayor of the town of Balete, which sits on the lake surrounding the volcano. “They slip through our security cordon and are returning there. While we also understand that they want to check on their livestock, we don’t want them to get harmed.”

By dawn Monday, residents of nearby towns were hosing mud off their windows and roofs even as tremors continued to rock surrounding towns. The level four alert meant that the volcano was preparing for a hazardous eruption that could spew ash up to 10 miles into the sky, sending thick smoke and ash across the surface of the lake.

“There is a fear that anytime this can explode,” the mayor said. “We asked people to leave and rescued them. At first they did not want to leave, but when they saw that it continued to spew ash and steam yesterday afternoon they were forced to go.”