Sorsogon towns have ash fall from Bulusan Volcano; residents evacuate

Some barangays in the towns of Juban and Irosin in Sorsogon had ash fall on Monday after Bulusan Volcano had a phreatic eruption.

The Sorsogon Provincial Information Office shared photos of the ash fall affecting some barangays.

A total of 118 individuals or 33 families from Barangay Cogon in Irosin and Barangay Puting Sapa in Juban were evacuated following the ash fall, Philippine National Police Region 5 Director Andre Dizon said, according to a report on Super Radyo dzBB by Carlo Mateo.

The evacuees were brought to evacuation centers, Dizon said.

Thick ash fell in Barangays Puting Sapa and Buraburan in Juban while moderate ash fell in Barangay Guruyan and two other barangays, he added.

Motorists were advised to slow down while traversing the roads.

Bulusan Volcan's phreatic eruption occurred at 4:36 a.m. and lasted until 5 a.m. on Monday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said.

A bent plume rose from the volcano's crater up to 4.5 kilometers, he added. This drifted west to southwest.

PHIVOLCS raised the alert level from zero to Alert Level 1 (Low-level unrest) following the event.

It said ashfall occurred in Barangays Cogon and Bolos in Irosin, and Barangays Puting Sapa, Guruyan, Buraburan and Tulatula Sur in Juban.

"Communities that experience ashfall must take all necessary precautions and use protective masks or wet cloth to prevent ash inhalation," PHIVOLCS advised.

"A pyroclastic density current (PDC) or 'uson' descended the southwestern slopes and traveled within three (3) kilometers from the summit vent," it also said.

PHIVOLCS advised the local government units and the public that the permanent danger zone — the four-kilometer radius from the crater — should be kept off limits.

"Vigilance in the 2-kilometer Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) on the southeast sector must be exercised due to the possible impacts of volcanic hazards such as PDCs, ballistic projectiles, rockfall, avalanches and ashfall on these danger areas," it added.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) meanwhile issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) regarding flights near Bulusan Volcano, with vertical limits from the surface up to 21,000 feet.

CAAP said the NOTAM will be in effect from 8:28 a.m. of Monday, April 28 to 4:36 a.m. of Tuesday, April 29.

"Flight operators are advised to avoid flying near the volcano due to possible hazards from sudden explosive eruptions," CAAP said in its advisory. —KG, GMA Integrated News