Bulusan explodes anew; classes suspended in 2 towns

LEGAZPI CITY—Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon province is again acting up, belching ash and smoke to the sky twice before noon on Tuesday.

The eruptions, both phreatic or steam-driven, occurred at 11:02 a.m. and 11:20 a.m., said Eduardo Laguerta, resident volcanologist of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Celso Mancilla, Phivolcs science research assistant, said the gray ash plume, which ranged from 400 to 500 meters high, drifted west-southwest of the volcano, toward the towns of Juban, Irosin and Casiguran.

Records indicated that phreatic eruption was typical to Bulusan during restive periods, when its hydrothermal system was disturbed or when steam have accumulated and put pressure on the shallow levels of the volcanic edifice.

More explosions of varying intensity, duration and ash distribution are expected, Phivolcs said. Laguerta, however, stressed that Tuesday’s ash falls posed no danger to the residents.

In Tinampo Elementary School in Irosin, students panicked after hearing a thunderous sound coming from the volcano. Local officials suspended classes in all levels by Tuesday afternoon.

In Juban, classes were also called off in villages where ash falls were mostly felt, said Benny Recibido, provincial manager of the Philippine Information Agency. These were in Bacolod, Anog, Guruyan, Catanusan and Puting Sapa.

Raffy Alejandro, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense, said the agency was still assessing the situation on the ground before deciding on the need to evacuate people living close to the volcano.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol said it had prepared P365,400 worth of food packs to be distributed to families in Irosin, Juban and Casiguran.

At least 300 face masks were distributed to residents in Juban, said Arnel Garcia, DSWD regional director.

Hours before the explosions, Phivolcs said its seismic monitoring network detected five volcanic earthquakes during the past 24 hours.

Weak emissions of white steam plumes were observed to drift and creep down on the volcano slope, and a very slight inflation of the edifice.

On May 7, Bulusan’s alert level was raised to No. 1 after government volcanologists observed abnormalities. Alert Level 1 (abnormal) remains in effect over the volcano.

Entry into the 4-km “permanent danger zone” is prohibited due to the possibility of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or eruption. With reports from Ma. April Mier and Ma. Lourdes Gaufo, Inquirer Southern Luzon