Science and Technology Undersecretary Renato Solidum Jr. has not discounted the possibility of another phreatic or steam-driven eruption at Bulusan Volcano in the coming days, weeks, or months.
“Posibleng magkaroon pa ng pagsabog na minsan araw, linggo o buwan ang pagitan (It is still possible that another phreatic eruption may occur, which is sometimes days, weeks or months apart,” Solidum said in a televised public briefing on Monday, June 6.
However, Solidum, who is also the OIC of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), does not see yet the need to raise the volcano’s alert status from level 1 to 2.
The active volcano’s status has been raised from level 0 to 1 after its phreatic eruption on Sunday, June 5.
“Hindi pa natin nakikita na magtataas ng Alert Level 2. Sa Alert Level 2 meron nang magma na involved sa activity ng bulkan. Ang measurement ng sulfur dioxide gas na batayan na merong magma na involved ay hindi pa ma-detect (We do not see yet the need to raise the volcano’s status to Alert Level 2. At Alert Level 2, there is already magma involved in the volcanic activity. The level of sulfur dioxide gas, which is an indicator of the presence of magma, has not been detected),” he explained.
Solidum noted that Bulusan Volcano’s phreatic eruption in 2017 was similar to the eruption that transpired on Sunday.
He added that no magmatic eruption had been recorded over Bulusan Volcano since early 1900s.
Following the phreatic eruption on June 5, some villages in the municipalities of Juban, Irosin, and Casiguran were affected by ashfall.
“Posible magkaroon ng lahar kapag may malakas at tuloy-tuloy na ulan sa northwest side ng Bulusan Volcano kasi nandun ang abo (Lahar flow is possible if there is heavy and continuous rain, especially on the northwest side of Bulusan Volcano where the ash is deposited),” Solidum warned.
Phivolcs reminded the public that entry into the four-kilometer permanent danger zone is strictly prohibited because of possible sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions.
Meanwhile, the public is advised to remain vigilant when entering the two-kilometer extended danger zone, which is on the southeast sector of Bulusan Volcano.