Bulusan: 178 volcanic quakes recorded

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 178 volcanic earthquakes were recorded in Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon in the past 24 hours.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said volcano also emitted 613 tons of sulfur dioxide and generated plumes that rose 150 meters and drifted northwest on Friday.

The edifice of the volcano remains inflated.

On Friday, Phivolcs warned the public of another phreatic eruption of Bulusan, citing increased seismic activity.

The agency said entry into the four-kilometer permanent danger zone is strictly prohibited.

Vigilance should be exercised due to increased possibilities of sudden and hazardous phreatic eruptions as well as sediment-laden stream flows and lahar in case of an eruption, Phivolcs added.

The Department of Agriculture (DA)-Bicol office said it provided assistance to farmers in Juban, Bulusan, Irosin and Casiguran who were affected by the volcano’s phreatic eruption on Sunday last week.

The local government units (LGUs) received vegetable seeds and power sprayers to remove volcanic ashes from agricultural crops worth P425,625 under the high-value crops development program, the DA regional office reported.

Plastic drums, laminated sacks, garden tools, water hoses and power sprayers were prepositioned at the Sorsogon dairy farm.

Antibiotics, vitamins, dewormers, mineral blocks, disinfectants and wound antiseptics were turned over to the Sorsogon provincial veterinary office for livestock around the volcano’s four-kilometer danger zone.

DA regional executive director Rodel Tornilla has activated 24-hour command centers at the regional office and Sorsogon dairy farm since June 5.

Damage to agriculture due to Bulusan’s eruption was placed at P2.64 million as of June 9.

The DA-Bicol office said monitoring of the affected areas are ongoing in coordination with concerned LGUs and the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office. – Catherine Talavera