Bulusan ash fall triggers health problems

Local authorities have evacuated at least 16 families at the foot of reawakened Mount Bulusan, citing health problems triggered by the volcano's ash fall on nearby villages. The volcanic ash reached at least six villages in Irosin town and five others in Bulusan town in Sorsogon province, which is still reeling from the devastation wrought by typhoon Milenyo. "We have evacuated at least 16 families in the Bulusan town proper. Some of them were already suffering from upper respiratory problems while others had just given birth," dzRH radio quoted Bulusan Mayor Juan Gusayko as saying. Gusayko said he has instructed local health authorities to monitor the quality of the water in the area to make sure they are not contaminated with ash. He said the evacuated residents were temporarily sheltered at the municipal building. Citing reports reaching him, he said the ash from Bulusan had reached the villages of San Roque, San Rafael, San Francisco, San Jose, and Bulusan poblacion in Bulusan town. It had also reached the villages of Patag and Mapaso in Irosin, he added. At least 10 volcanic quakes followed the ash explosions from Bulusan volcano since Tuesday, when it first spewed ash that reached up to three kilometers high. Classes were suspended in schools within the four-kilometer permanent danger zone. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) is still monitoring the activity at Bulusan to see if there is a need to raise the alert warning from the present level 1.