Phivolcs: Mt. Bulusan spews ash again Sunday morning

(Updated 11:27 a.m.) Mount Bulusan, the volcano in Sorsogon, spewed ash as high as two kilometers from the summit Sunday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. The ash explosion occurred at 7:22 a.m. and the ash column reached two kilometers above the crater rim and drifted southwest, according Phivolcs' Sunday bulletin. "The ash ejection was accompanied by a rumbling sound and reflected as an explosion-type earthquake with duration of nine minutes and thirty seconds. Prior to the ash ejection, the Bulusan seismic network detected a total of 12 volcanic earthquakes," it said. In an interview on dzBB radio, Phivolcs supervising science research specialist July Sabit said that the magma in the volcano is not rising to the surface yet. Residents located in the northwest and southwest sectors of the volcano were reminded to take precautions against ashfalls. Radio dzBB quoted Sabit as advising residents near the volcano to use gas masks to protect themselves from the ash. Phivolcs added that the residents near valleys and river or stream channels should be watchful against sediment-laden stream flows and lahars because ash and other loose volcanic materials may be re-mobilized during heavy and prolonged rainfall. For his part, Phivolcs volcanologist Ed Laguerta said rains in recent days may trigger lahar flows in Irosin town. "It may be advisable for residents to leave their homes after about 30 minutes of heavy rains," he said. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/205308/phivolcs-to-sorsogon-residents-avoid-danger-zone-around-bulusan “It may be advisable for residents to leave their homes after about 30 minutes of heavy rains," Laguerta said. — JE/VS, GMANews.TV