No impending eruption of Mt. Bulusan – Phivolcs

MANILA, Philippines - State geologists have allayed fears of an impending major eruption of Bulusan volcano in Sorsogon after white smoke was seen emitting from the summit yesterday.

Renato Solidum, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director, told The STAR it is normal for Bulusan to emit steam that is often mistaken for white smoke or ash fall.

“No abnormal activity in Bulusan observed today,” he said 

“It’s normal for the volcano to emit steam,” he said.

Alert Level 0 remains in effect over Mt. Bulusan, he added.

However, Phivolcs advised the public against entering the four-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone due to the possibility of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions.

It urged civil aviation authorities to advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as materials ejected from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.

Meanwhile, Phivolcs recorded three volcanic earthquakes at Taal volcano in Batangas in the past 24 hours.

Mayon volcano in Albay remained calm in the past 24 hours with no volcanic quakes detected during the observation period, Phivolcs said.

Taal and Mayon are under Alert Levels 1 and 2.

Alert Level 1 means hazardous eruption is not imminent.

Alert Level 2 indicates that “magma has most likely intruded at depth and that current conditions could eventually lead to a larger eruption.”