MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) is sending a team of volcanologists to Mt. Pinatubo in Zambales on Monday to check whether the volcano has spewed out lahar, which could indicate an eruption.
Perla de los Reyes, officer-in-charge of the Phivolcs’ Geology and Geophysics Research and Development, said they would check reports that lahar mixed with floodwaters hit many parts of Zambales following continuous heavy rains brought by typhoon “Kiko.”
“Based on the report of the Office of Civil Defense, it was floodwater,” De los Reyes said in a phone interview. “But we will still send our people to Mt. Pinatubo for post event evaluation.”
De los Reyes said based on video footage of television networks, “it was only rainwater, no sediments,” adding that the Bucao river located in the Zambales-Tarlac side of the volcano could have overflowed due to torrential rains. The rampaging floods killed several people, including foreign tourists at the foot of Mt. Pinatubo.
Meanwhile, Typhoon “Kiko” (international code name Morakot) slightly weakened yesterday after battering several areas in Northern and Central Luzon, Pagasa said.
Pagasa said Kiko lost strength after making landfall in Taiwan.
As of 5 p.m. yesterday, storm signal no. 1 remained hoisted over Batanes, northern Cagayan, Apayao and Ilocos Norte.
Kiko is expected to be at 360 kms north-northwest of Basco or in the vicinity of western Taiwan this morning.
It will be 620 kms north-northwest of Basco or over Southeastern China this afternoon.
Pagasa deputy administrator Nathaniel Cruz said occasional rains over the rest of Luzon and Western Visayas will persist this weekend.
Cruz also said Pagasa spotted a new shallow low-pressure area at 1,580 kms east of northern Luzon.
Cruz warned residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes of possible flashfloods and landslides.
Kiko is the 11th tropical cyclone to enter the country this year.
The storm left and returned to the country’s area of responsibility on the same day last Tuesday, after an interaction with a high-pressure area east of Japan.