Mount Bulusan in the central Philippines erupted early Monday, sending a plume of ash soaring 4.5 kilometers into the air and prompting authorities to raise its alert status.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) elevated Bulusan’s alert level from 0 to 1, indicating low-level unrest and the possibility of sudden steam-driven explosions. Officials urged residents to avoid the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone and remain cautious within an extended 2-kilometer area on the volcano’s southeast side due to risks of rockfall, ashfall, and sudden ejections of debris.
The eruption, which occurred between 4:36 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., came after Phivolcs detected 53 volcanic earthquakes over a 24-hour period. Locals also reported hearing rumbling sounds before the ash explosion.
Phivolcs warned, “Entry into the 4-kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone must be strictly prohibited,” stressing the threat of sudden hazardous events.
Aviation authorities were also advised to caution pilots against flying near the volcano’s summit.
Mount Bulusan is among the country’s 24 active volcanoes. Sitting along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” the Philippines frequently experiences volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.