'Explosion' on Mt. Arayat not volcanic - expert

ARAYAT, Pampanga , Philippines  – A government volcanologist yesterday allayed fears that the “explosion” heard on Mt. Arayat here before the mudslide that killed 12 villagers at the height of tropical storm “Ondoy” last week was related to any volcanic activity.

Volcanologist July Sabit, however, told The STAR that Mt. Arayat, while not in the list of active volcanoes in the country, is classified as between “potentially active” and “inactive.”

Families who survived the mudslide in Barangay San Juan Banyo here last Sept. 25 claimed they heard a loud explosion from the summit of Mt. Arayat before the tragedy.

Twelve villagers were buried in their homes, while 300 other families were evacuated, as more landslides were feared.

Mayor Chito Espino was quick to deny any mining activity in the area, although some claimed that the explosion might have been triggered by treasure hunting activity on the slopes of Mt. Arayat.

Sabit said though the loud sound could be caused by boulders crashing against each other as they cascaded down the mountain slopes or by earth materials breaking apart.

“It would seem that the explosion was surfaceal, not subterranean,” he said.

He discounted volcanic activity as a possible explanation for the explosion, saying that Mt. Arayat has had no historical record of eruption, although it is known to be a volcano. 

“But further study is needed to find out Mt. Arayat’s classification as either inactive or potentially active,” he said.

Sabit said this is normally done by examining “charcoal” embedded underneath for carbon testing to find out its past volcanic behavior, although this has yet to be done.

Government geologist Lyn Melosantos, for her part, declined to comment amid lack of first-hand information.

Meanwhile, Sabit downplayed lahar threat from Mt. Pinatubo, as more rains are expected from typhoon “Pepeng.”

“The volcanic deposits (from Mt. Pinatubo’s 1991 eruption) are not entirely gone, but they now form a permanent part of the landscape,” he said.

Sabit, however, said muddy flows from Mt. Pinatubo’s slopes are still expected due to “topsoil erosion.”

“Mt. Pinatubo has remained very quiet,” he said.   – Ding Cervantes