By Kaithreen Cruz, Manila Times
THE Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon in the Bicol Region had another phreatic eruption on Sunday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.
The eruption occurred at 3:37 a.m. and lasted 18 minutes based on seismic records.
Phivolcs, however, said the eruption plume was not visible on its camera monitors.
Bulusan remained at Alert Level 1 or low-level unrest, meaning that it is currently in an abnormal condition.
In its 24-hour observation from 5 a.m. on June 11 to 5 a.m. on June 12, Phivolcs recorded 136 volcanic earthquakes, with plumes 150 meters high in moderate emissions drifting west-northwest and northwest.
As of June 10, the recorded sulfur dioxide flux in the volcano was at 613 tons per day.
Phivolcs reminded concerned local government units and the public that entry into the 4-kilometer radius permanent danger zone is strictly prohibited and that vigilance in the 2-kilometer extended danger zone on the southeast sector should be exercised because of increased possibility of sudden and hazardous phreatic eruptions.
"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 [a] phreatic eruption occur," the agency said.
It also advised civil aviation authorities to avoid flying close to the volcano's summit as ash from any sudden phreatic eruption can be hazardous to an aircraft.
Last week, June 5, Bulusan also had a phreatic eruption that lasted 17 minutes, which placed the volcano from Alert Level 0 (normal) to Alert Level 1.
