Bulusan Volcano records fewer quakes in past 24 hours, but remains under Alert Level 1

From 69 volcanic earthquakes on Tuesday, June 14, only 10 volcanic earthquakes were recorded at Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon on Wednesday, June 15, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Although there have been fewer volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours, Phivolcs said Bulusan Volcano is still under a “low-level unrest.”

In its 8 a.m. bulletin issued on Wednesday, Phivolcs also detected a 500-meter-high “voluminous” emission from the volcano, while the volcano’s edifice remained inflated.

Moreover, Bulusan Volcano’s sulfur dioxide or SO2 emission averaged 4,627 tons per day on June 12.

Phivolcs said the active volcano remains under Alert Level 1.

Bulusan Volcano’s status has been raised from Level 0 to Level 1, following a phreatic eruption on June 5. It had another phreatic eruption on June 12.

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 in the southeast sector of Bulusan Volcano.

Furthermore, people living within valleys and along river/stream channels especially on the southeast, southwest and northwest sector of the edifice were advised to be vigilant against sediment-laden stream flows and lahars in the event of heavy and prolonged rainfall should another phreatic eruption occurs.

Bulusan Volcano also had phreatic eruptions on June 5 and 12.