Bulusan Volcano could erupt anew in next few days – Phivolcs chief

Phivolcs said the eruption produced a bent plume that rose 4,500 meters above the crater before drifting west to southwest. (Photo By Patrickroque01/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

By Ma. Cristina Arayata, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – There is a possibility that phreatic eruption could recur in Bulusan Volcano in the next few days, the head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Tuesday.

“That’s the reason why we’re telling the public to refrain from entering the four-kilometer permanent danger zone, because phreatic eruption could recur. Even at alert Level 0, phreatic eruption is possible,” Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon episode.

A 24-minute phreatic eruption occurred in Bulusan Volcano early Monday, prompting the Phivolcs to raise the volcano’s alert status from Level 0 (normal) to Level 1 (low-level unrest).

Phivolcs said the eruption produced a bent plume that rose 4,500 meters above the crater before drifting west to southwest.

Bacolcol said ash emission was recorded from 5:51 a.m. to 5:37 a.m. Tuesday, but this was only 100 meters tall.

For the past 24 hours, Bulusan Volcano generated 89 volcanic earthquakes, he added.

Bacolcol said increased seismicity was observed last April 21, prompting the Phivolcs to advise local government units (LGUs) to be vigilant against possible phreatic eruption.

He, meanwhile, urged the public to listen to LGUs and Phivolcs’ advisories.

The last eruption of Bulusan Volcano occurred in June 2022, and Bacolcol said the plume that it produced was not high.