Ashfall from Bulusan blankets barangays in Sorsogon

Four barangays in Irosin, Sorsogon were covered by ashfall after the phreatic eruption on Sunday morning of Bulusan Volcano, the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office (MDRRMO) said.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, Irosin, Sorsogon MDRRMO officer Fritzie Michelena said that nearly 800 families were slightly affected by the ashfall in barangays Cogon, Bolos, Gulang-Gulang, and Tinampo.

“Sa ngayon, apat na barangay ang slightly affected ng phreatic explosion ng Bulkang Bulusan pero sa karatig naming bayan, ‘yun ‘yung medyo madami-dami ang ashfall, diyan sa Juban,” she said.

(Right now, four barangays are slightly affected by ashfall from the phreatic eruption of Mount Bulusan, but the nearby town Juban might have more barangays affected.)

While the local government is already preparing for possible evacuation of the residents, Michelena said that there is no need yet to transfer them to evacuation centers upon initial assessment.

She also added that their barangay is not yet seeking anything from the national government.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Director Renato Solidum earlier said the phreatic eruption occurred at 10:37 a.m. and it lasted for 16 minutes.

Ash fall from Bulusan Volcano's phreatic eruption on Sunday also reached several barangays in Juban, Sorsogon.

According to the Sorsogon Provincial Information Office (PIO), these areas are in Barangays Bacolod and Buraburan.

Sorsogon PIO advised the public to exercise caution when going outdoors.

“Inaabisuhan ang mga motorista na iwasang bumiyahe muna kung hindi naman kinakailangan papunta sa mga apektadong lugar sa mga bayan ng Juban (Puting Sapa, Buraburan, Catanusan, Anyog, Mabini, Rangas, Calateo, Sipaya, Aroroy at Maalo) at Irosin,” it wrote on Facebook.

(Motorists are advised to refrain from traveling if not necessary to the affected areas in the towns of Juban (Puting Sapa, Buraburan, Catanusan, Anyog, Mabini, Rangas, Calateo, Sipaya, Aroroy and Maalo, and the town of Irosin.)

The Department of Health earlier released guidelines on how to deal with ashfall. —with a report from Mel Matthew Doctor/LBG, GMA News