Bulusan ashfalls trigger fish kill

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippies  – After tons of dead tilapia floated in Buhi Lake in Camarines Sur two weeks ago, another fish kill hit the Bicol region, this time in rivers and fishponds in Sorsogon, attributed to ashfalls from Mt. Bulusan since Nov. 6. 

Prudencio Bongalos, aquaculturist of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, confirmed that at least 5,000 fish floated in the Sorsogon River, particularly in Juban, Casiguran and Irosin towns located near Bulusan. 

Bongalos said the fish kill was triggered by ash that fell on the rivers and fishponds or was carried downstream during heavy rains.

BFAR-Bicol director Dennis del Socorro said the sulfur content of the ash contaminated the rivers, resulting in the fish kill.

“Of course, we can do nothing to stop this, it being a natural phenomenon. All we can do is help the areas and people affected by this fish kill,” Del Socorro told The STAR in a phone interview yesterday. 

He said his office has prepared fingerlings of tilapia for distribution to the affected villagers once Bulusan’s current unrest dissipates.

Meanwhile, disaster officials are closely watching lahar from Bulusan, fearing that heavy rainfall could wash down some 100,000 cubic meters of volcanic debris deposited on the southwest slopes of the volcano.

Reports said lahar has been observed in river channels in Barangays Cogon and Monbon in Irosin town. – With Celso Amo