Bulusan ash causes boy's death

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines  – Health authorities have warned residents in a number of Sorsogon towns to take appropriate measures against ash spewed by Bulusan Volcano last Monday after a two-year-old boy died of respiratory arrest.

Dr. Estrella Payoyo, resident physician of the Pantaleon Memorial District Hospital in Bulan town, said the victim, Michael Celso, was brought by his father outside their home because of a power outage when the ashfall took place Monday morning.

That night, the boy had difficulty breathing, prompting his parents to bring him to a doctor. He died the following morning.

Bulusan spewed thick smoke and volcanic ash as far as three kilometers above the summit and dumped ash as thick as five millimeters in Irosin and about three millimeters in Bulan town. Winds carried the ash to as far as Ticao Island and Masbate City about 30 miles away.

After an aerial survey, government volcanologists said Bulusan spewed an estimated 700,000 cubic meters of ash.

Resident volcanologist Ed Laguerta said they sent ash samples for testing to determine if there is already “magma movement” in the volcano.

Raffy Alejandro, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense, said 6,000 face masks were turned over for distribution to Irosin residents.

The Social Welfare department said relief items worth about P20 million are ready to be released to Sorsogon towns affected by the Bulusan unrest.

It reported that Irosin officials have allowed thousands of residents to return home, except for 117 families in Barangay Cogon which is located near the volcano.

At least 6,524 families in 18 barangays in Irosin and Juban towns were affected by the ashfall, it added. – With Helen Flores, Cet Dematera