Quakes trigger fears of volcanic eruption in Bicol town

Successive mild quakes have hit Del Gallego town, Camarines Sur in recent days, triggering fears of a possible eruption of the Mt. Labo volcano. In an interview aired over radio dzBB, Del Gallego town Mayor Bayani Veluz on Friday said residents experience up to three intensity III earthquakes in a day. The local residents’ knowledge of the presence of a volcano in the area only fueled fears, the official said. Veluz said he will ask the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to send a team to verify the cause of the earthquakes. "Minsan tatlong beses sa isang araw. Di masyadong malakas, mga intensity III. Pero nasa paanan kami ng Mt. Labo (On some days there would be up to three quakes. They are not that powerful, about Intensity III. But we are aware our town is at the foot of Labo Volcano)," Veluz said. Veluz noted that the initial assessment of the local Phivolcs office that the quakes were not volcanic and were caused by a fault did little to assuage residents' fears. Phivolcs science research specialist Pedro Lumabi Jr said Mt. Labo is a "potentially active" volcano, adding that a Phivolcs team may be sent to the area to conduct further verification on the causes of the quakes. "May quick response team na magdadala ng instrument, iche-check kung tectonic or fault line (The Phivolcs can send a quick response team that will bring instruments to check if the quakes were tectonic or caused by a fault line)," Lumabi said. Del Gallego is a fourth-class town covering 32 villages (barangays) with a population of 20,456 people in 3,730 households. - GMANews.TV