Philippines raises alert level at volcano after eruption sees Bulusan spew ash 4.5km into the sky

MANILA – A restive volcano in the central Philippines spewed a column of ash as high as 4.5km into the sky on the morning of April 28, prompting the authorities to raise the alert level at Mount Bulusan and warn residents to stay out of a 4km danger zone.

Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon province, about 400km from the capital Manila.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised Bulusan’s alert status from 0 to 1 on its five-level scale, signalling low-level volcanic unrest and warning of possible phreatic eruptions.

Prior to the eruption, which occurred between 4:36am and 5am, the institute had recorded 53 volcanic earthquakes over a 24-hour period and local officials reported rumbling sounds.

Phivolcs also urged vigilance within an extended 2km danger zone on the volcano’s south-east sector due to the risk of rocks and other debris being ejected by the volcano, as well as rock falls and avalanches.

Ashfall was reported in several communities, it added.

The civil aviation authorities were advised to warn pilots against flying close to Bulusan’s summit, “due to possible hazards from sudden explosive eruptions”.

Bulusan is one of 24 active volcanoes in the Philippines. The country lies is in the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where volcanic activity and earthquakes are common.

Earlier in April, the country had experienced another eruption on Kanlaon. REUTERS, BLOOMBERG