(CNN Philippines) — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said there were no indications that an imminent destructive eruption will occur over Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon despite its present abnormal activity that saw the volcano spewing ash and smoke clouds up to a kilometer high on Tuesday (June 16).
Mt. Bulusan ejected ash and released a cloud of grayish smoke during two successive phreatic explosions Tuesday morning. The first explosion happened at 11:02 a.m. that lasted for 10 minutes while the second occurred at 11:20 a.m. that lasted for just one minute.
Related: Mount Bulusan spews out ash again
The said explosion is the third recorded volcanic activity in Bulusan since May 1, which Phivolcs classified as a “minor explosion event.”
Generally known for its sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, Bulusan has erupted 15 times since 1885 and is considered as the fourth most active volcano in the Philippines after Mayon, Taal, and Kanlaon.
Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum, however, said Bulusan’s steam-driven explosions are less violent than those driven by magma and did not indicate an imminent destructive eruption.
But Solidum said the possibility of raising the current alert level one to number two may occur if the following signs manifest:
magma moving up
more volcanic earthquakes
inflated volcano
more gas emissions
Solidum warned that more explosions may follow as the present alert level over Mount Bulusan indicates that hydrothermal processes is underway beneath the volcano that may lead to more steam-driven eruptions.
He said Phivolcs is closely monitoring the volcano’s activity and will come out with regular bulletins depending on the situation.
The situation over Mount Bulusan, meanwhile, prompted the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to issue a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) on Tuesday advising airport personnel, pilots, and airport flight dispatchers that the airways near the area of Mount Bulusan are closed off. The said NOTAM will be in effect until 8 a.m. Wednesday (June 17).
Engr. Raden Dimaano of the Sorsogon Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) earlier reported that Barangays Añog, Bacolod, Buraburan, Puting Sapa, and Ragas in the town of Juban, and Barangay Inlagadian in the town of Casiguran are so far the listed affected areas. Classes in the affected barangays have also been cancelled.
CNN Philippines’ Rex Remitio and Jean Rose Geronga contributed to this report.
