Philippines Raises Alert Level After Bulusan Volcano Eruption

Mount Bulusan in the central Philippines erupted on Monday, sending an ash plume 4.5 kilometers into the sky and prompting authorities to raise the alert level from 0 (normal) to 1 (low-level unrest), signaling the potential for further phreatic eruptions. The eruption lasted 24 minutes and was preceded by 53 volcanic earthquakes as well as rumbling sounds reported by local officials. Ashfall affected several villages in Sorsogon province, and a pyroclastic density current descended the volcano's southwestern slopes. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned residents to stay out of the four-kilometer permanent danger zone, with additional vigilance advised within a two-kilometer extended danger zone due to risks of rock falls, avalanches, and debris. Civil aviation authorities have cautioned pilots against flying near Bulusan's summit because of the hazardous ash and debris. The Philippines, located in the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' is home to 24 active volcanoes, making it prone to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.