Bulusan Volcano erupts for second day, authorities issue warnings

Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon erupted for a second consecutive day on Tuesday evening, April 29, causing significant ashfall and prompting renewed warnings from authorities amid ongoing volcanic unrest.

The phreatic or steam-driven eruption began at 7:43 p.m. and lasted approximately 77 minutes according to seismic and infrasound monitoring by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). Ashfall ranging from significant (~1 cm) to trace amounts was reported in several barangays, including Cogon, Tinampo, Monbon, Bolos, Gulang-Gulang, Gabao, Bulawan, Macawayan in Irosin; Guruyan in Juban; and Zone 7, Somagongsong, Beguin, Aquino, San Francisco, Calomagon, Inararan, Cadandanan, Dolos, and Polot in Bulan.

As of Wednesday morning, Phivolcs recorded a total of 66 volcanic earthquakes on Tuesday evening, including six volcanic tremors that lasted up to 163 minutes. Sulfur dioxide emissions averaged 548 tons per day, twice the baseline level of less than 200 tons per day.

Authorities maintain Alert Level 1 and advise residents to exercise caution within the two-kilometer extended danger zone due to potential hazards such as ashfall, pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), rockfall, and other volcanic dangers. Entry into the four-kilometer radius permanent danger zone must be strictly prohibited.

Residents are urged to take precautions during ashfall, especially those in valleys and river channels on western slopes, which may be susceptible to lahars or sediment-laden flows following heavy rainfall.