Bulusan Volcano erupted anew in Sorsogon province on Sunday morning, June 12, forcing 103 families composed of 438 individuals to flee their homes.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said ashfall incidents were recorded in three municipalities namely Juban, Casiguran, and Irosin after the latest phreatic eruption of Bulusan Volcano at 3:37 a.m.
The eruption lasted for 18 minutes.
“We are coordinating with our regional counterparts. There is an ongoing evacuation right now and we received a report that 103 families / 438 were evacuated in Juban alone,” the NDRRMC said.
Arian Aguallo, public information officer of Juban municipal DRRM office, said the latest eruption spewed more ash compared to the June 5 phreatic eruption.
“Medyo scattered po ang bagsak ng ashfall so hindi lang concentrated sa ilang barangay. Halos buong munisipyo po may traces of ashfall, at may selected barangays na heavily affected (The ashfall is scattered and not concentrated in select barangays. Almost the entire municipal hall had traces of ashfall, and there were selected barangays that are heavily affected),” Aguallo said over radio dzBB.
There were at least eight affected barangays in Juban namely Brgys. Anog, Puting Sapa, Bacolod, Buraburan, Catanusan, Calateo, Aroroy, and Rangas.
Personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, and Bureau of Fire Protection returned to Juban days after it was cleared of ashfall to clear the area anew.
“Nakadeploy na ang ating mga tropa para sa clearing operations (Our troops were already deployed for the clearing operations),” Aguallo said.
He reminded motorists passing by Juban to take extra precaution as thick ashes were covering the roads and major thoroughfares.