Bulusan Volcano spews ash anew

LEGAZPI CITY — Mt. Bulusan in Sorsogon spewed ash Saturday morning, its second phreatic or steam-driven explosion since last March 22.

The earlier ashfall destroyed vegetable and palay crops and caused fishkills in Barangays Buraburan and Sangkayan in Juban town.

Bella Tuvianosa, Bulusan’s resident volcanologist, said the mild ash explosion occurred at about 10:44 a.m. Saturday, reaching about 1.5 kilometers from the volcano’s summit.

Tuvaniosa added that there was a moderate emission of white steam from the crater after the explosion.

Very light ashfalls were reported in Barangay Bacolod in Juban town, and light ashfalls in Barangays Anog, Putting Sapa, Buraburan, all in Juban town, and in Barangay Cogon in Irosin, Sorsogon.

"This (ash explosion) is still part of the present unrest being exhibited by Bulusan Volcano," said Tuvianosa.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) is expecting more explosions due to the volcano’s present level of unrest, Tuvianosa added.

A four-kilometer exclusion zone is in place around the 1,565-meter volcano.

Alert level one is still maintained around Bulusan. Phivolcs has cautioned locals against venturing into the danger zone and advised them to be vigilant on sudden ash explosions.

After the phreatic explosion last March 22, Sorsogon Gov. Raul Lee ordered local officials of the Department of Education to prepare classrooms in the affected towns like Bulusan, Casiguran, Irosin, Juban and Barcelona in case of contingencies.

Lee also activated the provincial disaster coordinating council to map out emergency plans in coordination with the different provincial agencies.

Bulusan had a series of similar explosions in 1994 and 1995, but there were no evacuations.