Volcanic Quakes Recorded Around Mount Bulusan

At least 33 volcanic quakes around restive Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon province were recorded in the last 24 hours from Sunday to Monday morning.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said these 33 quakes accompanied Sunday morning's explosion where Bulusan spewed ash two kilometers from the summit.

"Bulusan Volcano’s seismic network recorded 33 volcanic earthquakes during the past 24-hour observation period. One of the recorded quakes was an explosion type that accompanied the 7:22 a.m. 2-km ash ejection yesterday," Phivolcs said in its Monday bulletin.

It also observed a weak emission of white steam from the volcano’s crater and known thermal vents.

Phivolcs maintained that Alert Level 1, which it declared last Nov. 6, remains in effect over Bulusan Volcano.


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Mayon Volcano Set to Erupt - Alert Level 2

Philvocs has raised the level for Mayon Volcano to Alert Level “2" due to moderate unrest.

"This alert condition signifies a state of unrest which could lead to ash explosions or eventually to hazardous magmatic eruption. Thus, at Alert Level 2, Phivolcs strongly recommends that the 6-km radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) around the volcano and the 7-km Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) on the southeast flank of the volcano are off-limits due to the threat from sudden explosions and rockfalls from the upper slopes," it said on its website.

Provincial officials in Albay, Bicol have already mapped out evacuation plans, which also includes forced evacuation of residents living near volcano's periphery.

Cedric Daep, head of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO), said Governor Jose Salceda has also banned mountain-climbing activities on Mayon.

"Sa ngayon nag-issue si Governor ng advisory, pinagbawal ang mountain climbing. Bawal ang any human activity in critical areas sa 6-km permanent danger zone [The governor issued an advisory barring mountain-climbing. He also banned human activity in critical areas at the six-kilometer permanent danger zone]," Daep said in an interview on dzXL radio.

Daep mentioned that they had met with community leaders in high-risk zones to ask them to convince farmers not to sleep in areas near the permanent danger zone.