PHIVOLCS: 11-minute minor eruption recorded at Mt. Bulusan

A minor ash eruption lasting 11 minutes occurred at Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon Friday afternoon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

In a 2 p.m. advisory, PHIVOLCS said the eruption was recorded as an explosion-type earthquake that lasted 11 minutes.

Also, it said a "short 200-meter-high gray ash plume" drifted west-northwest was observed until the eruption ended at 1:21 p.m.


^{GMA News file photo taken 08 May 2015}

However, PHIVOLCS said the alert level at Bulusan remains at 1 (abnormal), meaning "hydrothermal processes are underway beneath the volcano that may lead to more steam-driven eruptions."

It reminded the local government units and the public against venturing into the four-kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) "due to the possibility of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions."

"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," it added.

Also, it said people living within valleys and along river/stream channels especially on the southwest and northwest sector of the edifice should be vigilant against sediment-laden stream flows and lahar in the event of heavy and prolonged rainfall. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News