SINCE its 3:37 AM eruption on June 12, Bulusan Volcano has remained restive as degassing from its summit vents continues.
Steam-laden plumes have been generated with periods of profuse volume and sporadic ashing that began at 4:30 AM today.
Noticeably increased ash in the plumes at 9:00 AM was later followed by reports of light ashfall on Catanusan, Juban, Sorsogon and observations of ashfall on the upper northwest slopes.
At least five episodes of gray ash plume emission from the Blackbird crater and profuse steaming from the summit vents were observed from IP cameras of the Bulusan Volcano Network (BVN).
These events registered very weakly or not at all in the seismic record and not at all in the infrasound record of the BVN. Much of the ash was dispersed to the northwest of the summit, but no ashfall on population centers has been additionally reported.
The plumes have varied in ascent between 400 meters and 750 meters and have been strongly drifted to the northwest.
Alert Level 1 status remains in effect over Bulusan as the volcano is still in a state of hydrothermal unrest.
Local government units and the public are reminded that entry into the 4-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) must be strictly prohibited and that vigilance in the 2-kilometer Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) on the southeast sector must be exercised due to the increased possibilities of sudden and hazardous phreatic eruptions that can occur without warning.
Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden phreatic eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.
Furthermore, people living within valleys and along river/stream channels especially on the southeast, southwest and northwest sector of the edifice should be vigilant against sediment-laden stream flows and lahars in the event of heavy and prolonged rainfall should phreatic eruption occur.
DOST-PHIVOLCS is closely monitoring Bulusan Volcano’s condition and any new development will be communicated to all concerned stakeholders.
