Bulusan volcano spews ash anew

By Ronron
April 8, 2007

The Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon province spewed ash anew dawn of Sunday after two months of silence.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Director Renato Solidum said the volcano exploded at around 5:45 am yesterday, emitting thick cloud of ash to as high as four to five kilometers from its tip.

“We have expected this (emission). In fact, yesterday, Black Saturday, the PHIVOLCS issued an advisory because of the frequency of volcanic earthquakes,” Solidum said Sunday in Filipino.

Casiguran town Mayor Edwin Hamor described yesterday’s emitted ash as similar to a shape of mushroom.

“Actually, it was a beautiful sight because it was four to five kilometers high, and there was no wind, so you’re like looking at a mushroom floating in the air,” Hamor said in Filipino.

He said that because of the absence of wind, the ash only fell on one barangay in Casiguran, while the rest went to three barangays in the neighboring town of Juban.

Solidum said yesterday’s emission was the fourth of Bulusan for this year, the first three having occurred in January.

Bulusan became active starting June of last year, which spewed ash about 10 times until the end of the year.

Solidum said Alert Level 1 remains around Bulusan Volcano, which means the four-kilometer permanent danger zone remains off limits to the people./DMS