OCD: Over 74K affected by Bulusan Volcano phreatic eruption

A total of 74,209 individuals or 14,830 families were affected by the phreatic eruption of Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said on Tuesday.

“Currently, 19 families — comprising 61 individuals — are staying in two evacuation centers,” the OCD said in a statement.

“The response remains ongoing, with regular updates, advisories, and coordination with local government units and disaster response agencies to ensure a swift and effective response,” it added.

A stockpile of 880 boxes with 44,000 face masks and 2,000 hygiene kits are ready for distribution to evacuees, according to the OCD.

The Sorsogon government requested assistance in conducting aerial surveys to assess the damage caused by the ashfall. The OCD Bicol facilitated with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to secure an air asset for aerial reconnaissance.

N95 masks worth over P1.2 million and 2,000 hygiene kits worth P3.5 million were prepositioned for immediate deployment.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also mobilized 2,000 family food packs worth P1.78 million, along with tents, water containers, and hygiene kits.

The Bureau of Fire Protection is continuing its road flushing operations to clear ash from major roads.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) has activated its Emergency Operations Center and is working with municipal disaster response teams to respond to evolving needs.

The Department of Health (DOH) has issued a Code White Alert, emphasizing the importance of health and safety protocols in the affected areas.

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

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

PHIVOLCS raised the alert level at Bulusan Volcano from Alert Level 0 to Alert Level 1.

This "means that the volcano is currently in a state of low-level unrest with chances of phreatic eruptions succeeding this morning’s event." — BAP, GMA Integrated News