CAAP: No Bicol Region airports damaged by Bulusan eruption

No Bicol Region airports were damaged by the recent eruption of Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon province, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said Monday.

In a statement, the CAAP reported that no facilities were damaged in the area after Bulusan's 16-minute phreatic eruption over the weekend. The eruption prompted the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) to raise its volcano alert status from 0 or normal to Level One or low-level unrest.

"We remain vigilant and alert for the volcano's next activities. As of now, our airports have been safe from the wrath of Mt. Bulusan's eruption. Operations in our airports with commercial flights have remained unhampered as well," CAAP Area V Manager Cynthia Tumanut said in a press statement.

The CAAP manages seven airports in the Bicol region: Bulan Airport, Sorsogon Airport, Daet Airport, Masbate Airport, Naga Airport, Virac Airport, and the Bicol International Airport.

Further, the agency said it had issued an updated Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to reflect the ongoing situation in the area. Flights are now prohibited to operate 10,000 feet from the surface and advised to avoid flying close to the volcano's summit as ash from a sudden phreatic eruption could be hazardous to aircraft.

Earlier in the day, PHIVOLCS said a total of 29 volcanic earthquakes were monitored at Bulusan Volcano in the past 24 hours.

PHIVOLCS also prohibited entry into Bulusan's four-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) and entry without vigilance into the Extended Danger Zone (EDZ).

PHIVOLCS Director and Science Undersecretary Renato Solidum Jr. on Monday said the danger zone around Bulusan had been extended two more kilometers. — DVM, GMA News