ANOTHER phreatic eruption was recorded again in Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon yesterday.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the steam-driven eruption occurred at 3:37 a.m. yesterday and lasted for 18 minutes.

The new phreatic eruption came exactly a week after Bulusan erupted on June 5.

Phivolcs said the eruption plume was not visible in the camera monitors.

The steam plume was at least 150 meters tall, drifting west-northwest.

ASHFALL AFFECTS 12 BARANGAYS

According to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), 12 villages in Juban, Sorsogon were affected by ashfall. They were barangays Puting Sapa, Añog, Buraburan, Bacolod, Rangas, Roroy, Sipaya, Maalo, Calateo, Cogon, South Poblacion, and North Poblacion.

Phivolcs reminded residents to stay vigilant as Alert Level 1 prevails around the Bulusan Volcano due to the increased possibilities of sudden and hazardous phreatic eruptions.

Alert Level 1 means the volcano is in an abnormal condition.

8 FLIGHTS CANCELLED

Due to the latest phreatic eruption, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) recorded at least eight domestic flights that were canceled .

The affected flights were Cebu Pacific (5J) 325/326, Manila-Legazpi-Manila; CebGo (DG) 6111/6112, Manila-Naga-Manila; and PAL Express (2P) 2923/2924 and 2P 2919/2920, Manila-Legazpi-Manila.

For the past 24 hours, 136 volcanic earthquakes caused by movements or eruptions of magma from the volcano were recorded.

Phivolcs said entry into the four-kilometer radius permanent danger zone is strictly prohibited, adding that vigilance in the two-kilometer extended danger zone on the southeast sector must be exercised due to the increased possibilities of sudden and hazardous phreatic eruptions.

Pilots were advised to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from sudden phreatic eruption can be hazardous to aircrafts.

Phivolcs also urged those living within valleys and along river or stream channels, particularly on the southeast, southwest and northwest sector of the edifice, to be vigilant against sediment-laden stream flows and lahars in the event of heavy and prolonged rainfall should phreatic eruption occur.

NORMAL OPERATION IN ALL BICOL AIRPORTS—CAAP

A ranking official of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said all airports in Bicol are in normal operations.

In a statement, CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio said no airports in Bicol has been affected by the eruption by Bulusan.

In an information relayed by area manager Cynthia Tumamut, Apolonio said no damages were recorded in the CAAP facilities due to the latest phreatic eruption and ash emission of Bulusan Volcano.

The CAAP operates seven airports in the Bicol Region, namely Bulan Airport, Sorsogon Airport, Daet Airport, Masbate Airport, Naga Airport, Virac Airport, and Bicol International Airporrt.

“We remain vigilant and alert for the volcano’s next activities. As of now, our airports have been safe from the wrath of Mt. Bulusan’s eruption. Operations in our airports with commercial flights have remained unhampered as well,” Tumanut said. With Jun Legaspi