THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) yesterday said it sees a need to raise Bulusan Volcano’s alert status to Level 2 after phreatic eruptions on Monday and Tuesday.
In a radio interview, Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol also said that similar phreatic eruptions are still expected from the volcano in the next few days or weeks.
As this developed, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said that more than P15.75 million worth of food packs and non-food items like hygiene and sleeping kits have been distributed to the communities affected by the volcanic activities of Mt. Bulusan in Sorsogon.
DSWD assistant secretary and spokeswoman Irene Dumlao on Wednesday said the latest report from the agency’s Disaster Response Operations Management, Information, and Communication (DROMIC) office showed that 20,996 families or 98,315 individuals in 65 barangays in the province have been affected by the volcanic activity.
Phivolcs raised the volcano’s alert status from Alert 0 (quiet or no alert) to Alert Level 1 (low level unrest) last Monday after having a 24-minute phreatic or steam-driven eruption last Monday.
On Tuesday night, Bulusan Volcano made another phreatic eruption that lasted for 77 minutes.
“For now, the parameters that we are seeing are expected for an Alert Level 1 scenario,” said Bacolcol when asked if there is a need to raise the volcano’s alert status to Alert Level 2 (moderate level of volcanic unrest).
Bacolcol said Phivolcs continues to closely monitor Bulusan Volcano, one of the country’s “active volcanoes.”
“Right now, the parameters that we are seeing are still considered within the expected behavior of (a volcano under) Alert Level 1,” said Bacolcol.
“But if the unrest intensifies or changes in character, then we may raise the alert level to a higher level, from 1 to 2. Once there are (negative) changes, then we may raise it to Alert Level 2,” said Bacolcol.
Bacolcol said Phivolcs is expecting similar phreatic eruptions, which are considered normal for active volcanoes.
“Steam-driven eruptions are possible in the next few days or few weeks. Phreatic eruptions can still happen even at alert level 0,” said Bacolcol.
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 Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said the phreatic eruptions of Bulusan Volcano have affected 93,258 people in eight municipalities in Sorsogon.
Of the number, 59 families have been displaced and are staying at evacuation centers.
Citing information from Phivolcs, the OCD said ashfall has affected 19 barangays in the towns of Juban, Irosin, and Bulan.
“Currently, there are 339 families or around 1,271 persons taking temporary shelter at the four evacuation centers,” Dumlao said.
She reminded those who are staying in the evacuation centers to be vigilant and use protective masks or wet cloths to prevent ash inhalation following the eruption.
She said the DSWD’s quick reaction teams are on high alert and ready to extend assistance when and where they are needed.
The DSWD said it still has over P2.89 billion in funds (P68.585 million) and relief items like food and non-food items (P2.82 billion).
Palace Press Officer Clair Castro said on the orders of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., DSWD Secretary Gatchalian immediately flew to Sorsogon on Tuesday to assure the provincial and local governments that the DSWD has pre-positioned enough family food packs (FFPs) and other relief items in the Bicol Region.
Castro said apart from the distribution of aid, DSWD had also sent a mobile kitchen to the evacuation center to provide hot meals to the evacuees.
