Bulusan breaks 'silence,' 7 quakes recorded Sunday

Breaking its silence in past days, Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon province showed signs of renewed activity in the last 24 hours, state volcanologists said Monday. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded seven volcanic quakes around BUlusan, and "wispy to moderate" steaming activity. "The seismic network around Bulusan Volcano recorded seven volcanic earthquakes during the past 24-hour observation period. Steaming activity at the crater and known thermal vents ranged from wispy to moderate. The average sulfur dioxide flux yesterday was 4 tonnes/day," Phivolcs said in its 8 a.m. Monday bulletin. Bulusan had been relatively quiet in past days, with the Phivolcs recording only one volcanic quake a day. However, Phivolcs maintained Alert Level 1 remains over Bulusan. Phivolcs raised the alert level at Bulusan to "1" last Nov. 6. And with Alert Level 1 still in effect, Phivolcs reminded the public not to enter the 4-km Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ), which it said remains at risk to sudden steam and ash explosions. It also advised residents at the northwest and southwest sectors of the volcano to take precautions against ashfalls. "Civil aviation authorities must also warn pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ejected ash and volcanic fragments from sudden explosions may pose hazards to aircrafts," it said. Residents near valleys and river/stream channels should be vigilant against sediment-laden stream flows and lahars in the event of heavy and continuous rainfall, it added. — RSJ, GMANews.TV