The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said unrest at the Bulusan Volcano has markedly declined following its second eruption last Sunday, June 12.
Only three volcanic earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours while its sulfur dioxide emission averaged 1,255 tons per day on June 15.
The plume coming from the volcano rose only to 150 meters tall, a “moderate” emission from the volcano, while the volcano’s edifice remained inflated before drifting southwest and west-southwest drift.
BULKANG BULUSAN
Buod ng 24 oras na pagmamanman
16 Hunyo 2022 alas-5 ng umaga #BulusanVolcanoFilipino: https://t.co/WJrITmn9Z7
English: https://t.co/WJrITmn9Z7 pic.twitter.com/B8O5Uq21Cz
— PHIVOLCS-DOST (@phivolcs_dost) June 16, 2022
Despite this, Phivolcs said they still can’t lower the Bulusan Volcano to Alert Level 0.
“Pag nakita po natin na nasa baseline o normal level yung pinapakita ng Mt. Bulusan, possible na po tayo mag-downgrade. Pero at alert level 0 po, pinapaalalahan natin ang lahat na huwag pa rin pumasok sa permanent danger zone,” Bulusan resident volcanologist April Dominguiano said.
Phivolcs also warned the public of possible sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions.
“Sa ngayon po ang pinakamahalagang gawin ay maging prepared kasi possible pa rin po ang sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruption, and during na may malakas na ulan o pag ulan, possible po magka-lahar sa ating mga rivers,” Dominguiano added.
Private and public schools classes in areas affected by the Bulusan eruption are now allowed to resume, except for the Bacolod Elementary School, Catanusan Elementary School, Puting Sapat Elementary School, and Olimpio A. Guariña National High School.
Meanwhile, the water from the water system in Barangay Juban, Sorsogon is now safe to drink after it was filled with ash from the volcano.
“Clear na po ang results ng tubig natin from coliform so safe naman ito na pagkuhanan ng tubig. Ito pong tubig na ito tinutukoy ko ay ‘yung water system natin sa barangay Tughan, pero yung sa community water systems sa Barangay Puting Sapa na-clear na po iyon, tapos ngayon at nag-a-undergo pa rin siya ng refiling,” rural health physician Edric Ian Vargas said. – Report from Ryan Lesigues/ML–ag
