Lahar deposits found at Bulusan; UK warning up

After finding lahar deposits in Bulusan Volcano in Bicol, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned Sorsogon residents to take precaution. Radio dzBB reported Thursday that Phivolcs head Renato Solidum Jr. issued the warning after a Phivolcs team conducted an aerial survey of the volcano. Citing the team's report, Solidum said the volcano had at least three cracks from where steam came out. But he said what prompted them to issue the warning was the lahar deposits that he said may endanger villages around the volcano when the rains come. Weather forecasters expect heavy rains to come in the next few months because of the La Niña phenomenon. On the other hand, the Sorsogon provincial government convened its provincial disaster coordinating council to discuss ways to address potential problems. In a related development, two days after the United States warned its citizens against travel near Bulusan volcano, the United Kingdom followed suit in a travel advisory updated Thursday. In its advisory dated Thursday (Manila time), the UK Embassy cited the raising of the alert level from “1" to “2" by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). “There is a four-kilometre Permanent Danger Zone within which no entry is allowed. Furthermore, areas beyond this zone which are downwind are likely to be affected by ash falls," it said. Citing the Phivolcs advisory, it said Alert Level 2 indicated evidence of “magmatic intrusion that could eventually lead to an eruption." Earlier, the embassy noted both Mayon volcano in Albay and Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Oriental are on Alert Level 1. It noted the general public is prohibited from entering the four-kilometre radius Permanent Danger Zones around the two volcanoes. “You should avoid the areas surrounding the volcanoes as sudden steam and ash explosions may occur," it said. - GMANews.TV