BULUSAN Volcano had a phreatic eruption yesterday morning, prompting the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to raise the volcano’s status to Alert Level 1.
In a bulletin, Phivolcs said the eruption occurred at 4:36 a.m. and lasted for 24 minutes based on seismic and infrasound records.
Phivolcs declared a permanent danger zone within a four-kilometer radius after the volcano’s restiveness, which has affected the municipalities of Juban, Irosin, and Casiguran.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assured Sorsogon residents of the agency’s immediate response and assistance if the restiveness of Mt. Bulusan continues and intensifies.
DSWD assistant secretary and spokeswoman Irene Dumlao said over 180,000 family food packs (FFPs) have been prepositioned at the agency’s Field Office 5 (FO5) in the Bicol Region while 25,000 boxes of FFPs more were also prepositioned in Sorsogon province, which can be tapped and distributed to families that will be affected by the volcanic activity.
DSWD said no evacuations have been recommended yet but its regional office is making all preparations to ensure the seamless provision of assistance to the affected families.
The Department of Health (DOH) advised the public to observe safety measures to prevent adverse health reactions.
In a social media post, the DOH said: “The ashfall may penetrate one’s lungs. Thus, the affected community should wear face masks, cover their eyes, and wear long sleeves and pants.”
“Avoid going near the volcano or within the four-kilometer radius,” said the DOH.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) directed its field personnel to prepare contingency plans to ensure that they would be able to conduct the May 12 polls.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body is prepared to hold the elections even in the event that the activity of Mt. Bulusan escalates.
Phivolcs defines phreatic eruption as steam-driven explosions that occur when water beneath the ground or on the surface is heated by magma, lava, hot rocks or new volcanic deposits.
The eruption produced a plume that rose 4.5 km above the crater before drifting to the southwest.
Phivolcs said ashfall was reported in six barangays — Cogon and Bolos in Irosin town; Puting Sapa, Guruyan and Buraburan in Juban town, and Tulatula Sur in Magallanes town.
“A pyroclastic density current (PDC) or ‘uson’ descended the southwestern slopes and travelled within three kilometers from the summit vent,” Phivolcs added.
Phivolcs said 53 volcanic quakes were recorded in the past 24 hours before the phreatic eruption.
“Rumbling sounds were reported by local government officials approximately 15 minutes before the eruption and were recorded by infrasound sensors,” Phivolcs also said.
Phivolcs raised the Bulusan alert status to Alert Level 1 (low level of volcanic unrest) from 0 (quiet or no alert).
Alert Level 1, Phivolcs said, means the volcano is “currently in a state of low-level unrest with chances of phreatic eruptions succeeding this morning’s event.”
Phivolcs reiterated that entry to the 4 km radius permanent danger zone is strictly prohibited.
Phivolcs also urged people in the 2 km extended danger zone on the southwest sector to exercise vigilance “due to the possible impacts of volcanic hazards such as PDCs, ballistic projectiles, rockfall, avalanches and ashfall on these danger areas.”
It said communities that experienced ashfall “must take all necessary precautions and use protective masks or a wet cloth to prevent ash inhalation.”
“Furthermore, people living within valleys and along river/stream channels, especially on the southeast, southwest and northwest sectors of the edifice, should be vigilant against sediment-laden stream flows and lahars in the event of heavy and prolonged rainfall, should phreatic eruption occur,” Phivolcs said.
It also said pilots should avoid flying aircraft close to the volcano’s summit, noting that ash from sudden phreatic eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.
Bulusan is one of 24 active volcanoes in the Philippines. The country lies in the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where volcanic activity and earthquakes are common.
Senate President Francis Escudero called on his fellow Sorsoganons to heed the directives of proper authorities to prevent loss of lives.
He said the eruption of Mt. Bulusan sends a signal to the people of Sorsogon, especially those living near the volcano, to be vigilant and follow whatever directives coming from proper authorities.
