Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 12) — State volcanologists on Thursday lifted the alert level over Mt. Pinatubo as the volcano has returned to its normal state.
“Observational parameters have returned to baseline levels and the volcano has returned to a period of quiescence,” the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.
Mt. Pinatubo was placed under Alert Level 1, or low-level unrest, on March 4 due to over a thousand “imperceptible” earthquakes.
Phivolcs said there has been a continued decline in earthquake activity since July 1, prompting officials to lower the Alert Level to 0.
The highest level is Alert Level 5, which indicates that a hazardous eruption is in progress. The lowest is Alert Level 0 which means the volcano is quiet.
Located in Central Luzon, Mt. Pinatubo last erupted three decades ago. Its 1991 eruption was considered by the U.S. Geological Survey as the second-largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century.
