Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon City spewed cloud of ash that reach up to 3-kilometers into the sky and thick smoke and ash-fall lasted 19 minutes. Visibility was zero over three affected towns Monday, said the State volcanologists.
Volcanologists’ expert warned the people that there could be possibilities for more explosions in the next following days.
Alert level No.1 maintained by the Phivolcs in Bulusan but probably raise the warning status depending if condition is worsen.
The explosion believed to be the highest ash column recorded since its last explosion on November 6, 2010. The explosion was accompanied by an earthquake with the echoing sound that was heard more than 10-kilometers within Sorsogon at around 9:12 a.m.
“Hydrothermal and shallow,” which indicating pressure stream-driven is building up in the event of volcano, described the Phivolcs.
The fall of ash spread up to 30-kilometers away and even reaches Masbate, said Eduardo Laguerta, resident Phivolcs volcanologist in Sorsogon.
There were 38-students from Irosin and Bulan reported suffered from suffocation due to the smoke and heavy ash-fall, said Major Harold Cabunoc spokesperson of 9th Infantry Division.
Four-kilometer radius permanent danger zone (PDZ) was prohibited to residents and tourist from entering therein due to threats of sudden steam and ash explosions.
Meanwhile, at least 2,000 affected residents around Mt. Bulusan were evacuated with the (–foul word(s) removed–)istance of the military, Army and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) officials said.
School rooms were used as evacuation centers for affected residence. Cl(–foul word(s) removed–) in all level were suspended in the 3-towns of Sorsogon.
“No fly zone” with in the vicinity of Mt. Bulusan as (CAAP) Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines issued the notice.
Likewise, residents in the northwest and southwest sectors of Mt. Bulusan are reminded to take precautions against ash falls due to the prevailing wind direction.
Residents in the affected areas were advised to wear mask or use wet towels to avoid inhaling dust particles.
