Mt. Bulusan spews ash anew

Mt. Bulusan spewing ash. —ANDREW JOSEPH ZUNIGA/CONTRIBUTOR

CASIGURAN, Sorsogon – Mt. Bulusan in Sorsogon belched ash for the third time this week, sending ashfall over houses in a village in Casiguran town Friday.

Luisito Mendoza, Casiguran Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer, said at least 350 households were affected by ashfall in barangay (village) Inlagadian from Mt. Bulusan’s latest phreatic (steam-driven) eruption at around 12:45 a.m.

Crispolo Diolata, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) resident volcanologist based in Sorsogon, said the height of the ash plume on Friday was not measured because it was obscured by darkness.

“We have ten residents given medical attention due to vomiting and stomach ache triggered by ash from Mt. Bulusan,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza said the third phreatic explosion was the worst so far as the ash that fell on the ground measured about 5 millimeters thick.

He said a medical team was deployed to distribute face masks and towels to residents.

“If the situation gets worse, we might order pre-emptive evacuation to assure the safety of residents living near the 4-kilometer (permanent) danger zone,” he said.

Nerma Ricero, principal of Inlagadian Elementary School, canceled classes Friday after 310 students reported difficulty in concentrating on their lessons.

Farmer Salvador Hajas, 33, said the continuous eruption of the Bulusan volcano has caused them misery due to the ashfall that covered their crops.

“Our produce is very much affected. They rotted due to ash; for that, we can’t sell them at good prices,” he said.

Mt. Bulusan’s first two phreatic eruptions this week were recorded Monday and Wednesday. JE/rga