A sudden phreatic eruption from Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon has raised serious concerns among disaster authorities, prompting the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Bicol to issue a Blue Alert Status early Monday morning, April 28. The eruption, which lasted 24 minutes, signaled a significant uptick in volcanic activity, despite the volcano currently being under Alert Level 1.
OCD Bicol Regional Director Claudio Yucot stressed the need for communities near the volcano to stay alert. “We are urging all residents in affected areas to remain vigilant and heed all advisories issued by Phivolcs,” Yucot stated in a memorandum.
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operation Center (RDRRMOC) has also been placed on high monitoring status, coordinating closely with local disaster response teams. A Blue Alert means that all regional assets must be prepared for immediate deployment and that volcanic bulletins must be relayed swiftly to potentially affected communities.
According to RDRRMC Region V, the phreatic eruption originated from Bulusan’s summit crater and sent an ash plume 4,500 meters into the sky. The ash cloud drifted west to southwest, blanketing several barangays: Cogon and Bolos in Irosin; Puting Sapa, Guruyan, and Buraburan in Juban; and Tulatula Sur in Magallanes.
Significantly, a pyroclastic density current—a lethal, fast-moving cloud of gas, ash, and rock—flowed down the volcano’s southwestern slopes, reaching up to three kilometers from the crater. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported, but the event underscores the inherent dangers of even low-level volcanic unrest.
Before the eruption, Phivolcs recorded 53 volcanic earthquakes in 24 hours, and residents reportedly heard rumbling sounds just minutes before the explosion. These indicators reflect increasing instability beneath the surface, even though a full magmatic eruption is not currently forecasted.
The situation remains dynamic, and authorities continue to monitor for any changes in volcanic activity. Residents, especially those living within the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone, are strongly advised to prepare for possible evacuation and to stay tuned to official channels for updates.
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