Bulusan spews ash anew

LEGAZPI CITY, Philipines  – Bulusan volcano in Sorsogon spewed ash before dawn yesterday, blanketing at least 12 villages in the towns of Juban and Irosin, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum, however, said Bulusan remained at alert level 1 as of yesterday which means that there is “no imminent threat of a major eruption.”

Solidum said the minor steam-driven ash explosion happened at 12:25 a.m, accompanied by a rumbling sound heard up to five kilometers away from the volcano.

This event was recorded as an explosion-type earthquake lasting for about 11 minutes.

Solidum said field investigation conducted by Phivolcs scientists confirmed the presence of thin (0.5-2.5 mm) ash deposits in Barangays Caladgaw, Rangas, Putung-sapa, Sangkayon, Bacolod, Buraburan, Gurayan and Aniog in Juban town, and Cogon, Bolos, Umgon, and Gulang-gulang in Irosin town.

Phivolcs’ seismic network also detected 10 volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours.

Solidum said the last ash explosion at Bulusan occurred last Feb. 21.

“Phivolcs maintains alert level 1 over Bulusan. Steam-driven explosions can occur at this level,” he said.

Solidum warned the public against entering the four-kilometer permanent danger zone since the area is at risk to sudden steam and ash explosions.

“Due to the prevailing wind direction, residents in the northwest and southwest sectors of the volcano are reminded to take precautions against ashfalls,” Solidum said.

Meanwhile, Phivolcs recorded at least 11 volcanic quakes around Taal volcano in Batangas and Mayon volcano in Albay in the last 24 hours.

Phivolcs said the alert level at Taal and Mayon remains the same at 2 and 1, respectively. – Helen Flores, Celso Amo, Cet Dematera, Rudy Santos