Dumaguete City, Aug. 1 -- The local government of Canlaon City in Negros Oriental has closed seven evacuation centers after more than 500 families returned to their homes within Mt. Kanlaon's extended danger zone, an official said Friday.

Seth Cabanas Bariga, information officer of the city's Emergency Operations Center, told the Philippine News Agency in an interview that only three evacuation centers remain open.

"As of the latest count today, some 563 families or 1,798 individuals have left the evacuation camps, but we expect the number to rise while we consolidate the reports from these temporary shelters," he said.

Bariga reiterated that only those living outside the 4-km. Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) of the volcano were cleared to...