Bulusan Volcano belches 3-km high ash columns Monday

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — Bulusan Volcano has spewed an ash column reaching some three kilometers high from the crater summit today around 9:12 am sending anew residents from their home to safer grounds.

Resident Volcanologist Ed Laguerta of Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the ash explosion indicates that steam driven pressure is building up anew at the volcano’s vent.

Laguerta said that the agency recorded a explosion type earthquake lasting for about 19 minutes with rumbling sound heard up to 10 kilometers away in the town of Juban in Sorsogon.

The ash column that shoot up into the air drifted to the southwest of the volcano flank as preliminary filed investigation by the agency traced the presence of ash deposits in barangay (village) Monbon and Irosin town proper.

In Irosin town, at least 75 families or 319 individuals were evacuated from three barangays that are now housed in Gallanosa National High School in Barangay San Pedro, also in the said town.

Irosin Mayor Eduardo Ong, Jr said the evacuees are from Barangays Tinampo, Monbon, and Cogon located just down the slopes of the volcano that are most affected by the ash falls.
At least 17 barangays in Irosin town encountered from light to heavy ash falls.

The municipal government of Irosin has also mobilized response teams and dispatched vehicles to survey other areas and evacuate residents if necessary.

“We have also distributed face masks and conduct close monitoring of the evacuees for their immediate needs,” adding that, ”we need additional medicines for respiratory ailments, relief assistance,” he said.

“The Department of Public Works and Highways and Bureau of Fire Protection, and other groups already helped out for the clearing of national highways and other major roads from volcanic ash,” he added.

Lt. Col Santiago Enginco, commanding officer of the 49th Infantry Battalion, meanwhile said that the army unit has immediately deployed 5 military vehicles and were able to transport some 50 families or 150 individuals people from Puting Sapa village in Juban town to the evacuation center in Cogon Elementary School in the same town.

In Bulan town, initial reports show that at least 18 students suffered suffocation due to the thick ash falls, including 10 in Bulan National High School and 8 in Alcova Elementary School.

Mayor Helen Rose De Castro said the municipal government has already distributed facemasks this morning, especially to school children, adding that “we need additional of these masks as ashes from the volcano still pose danger to my constituents.

Classes in the affected areas in Juban, Irosin and Bulan towns were already suspended by the DepEd, with the presence of evacuees who took shelter in the elementary school grounds and facilities.

Meanwhile, reports from PIA Masbate said the ash falls from Mt. Bulusan recent eruption reached as far as Masbate City, as traces were evident on the roofs of houses and buildings, vehicles and main thoroughfares of the city.

PIA Masbate chief Ernie Delgado said the disaster management office has observed much heavier ash fall in Ticao Island perhaps because of the prevailing wind direction and the proximity of the area to Sorsogon province.

Masbate City Health Office has also distributed dust mask to prevent suffocation among the locals in the wake of the ash fall that until press time is noted in the area.

Phivolcs, furthermore, warned that Alert Level 1 remains hoisted over Bulusan Volcano and entry to the 4-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) is strictly prohibited, since the area is at risk to sudden steam and ash explosions.

Furthermore, people living near valleys and river/stream channels should be vigilant against sediment-laden stream flows and lahars in the event of heavy and prolonged rainfall.

Civil aviation authorities here advised pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano's summit as ejected ash and volcanic fragments from sudden explosions may be hazardous to aircraft.

Senator Francis Escudero, who hails from Casiguran town, has asked concerned government agencies through the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) to coordinate efforts to mitigate the effects of the eruption. (MALoterte, BARecebido, EADelgado, PIA V)