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The Philippines
AsiaSoutheast Asia

Philippines’ Bulusan Volcano erupts, spewing ash 4.5km high

Before the eruption early on Monday morning, researchers had recorded 53 volcanic earthquakes over a 24-hour period

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Ash and smoke rises from Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon province, Philippines, on Monday morning. Photo: Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology/EPA-EFE
Reuters
A restive volcano in the central Philippines spewed a column of ash as high as 4.5km (2.8 miles) into the sky on Monday morning, prompting authorities to raise the alert level at Mount Bulusan and warn residents to stay out of a 4km danger zone.

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.

Before the eruption, which occurred between 4.36am and 5am on Monday, the institute had recorded 53 volcanic earthquakes over a 24-hour period and local officials reported rumbling sounds.

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

Motorists manoeuvre along a road covered with volcanic ash from the Bulusan Volcano, in Sorsogon province, the Philippines, on Monday. Photo: Sorsogon Provincial Information Office/EPA-EFE
Motorists manoeuvre along a road covered with volcanic ash from the Bulusan Volcano, in Sorsogon province, the Philippines, on Monday. Photo: Sorsogon Provincial Information Office/EPA-EFE

Civil aviation authorities were advised to warn pilots against flying close to Bulusan’s summit.

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