OVER 500 FAMILIES EVACUATE AS MT. BULUSAN ERUPTS ANEW
MANILA, NOVEMBER 22, 2010 (BULLETIN) More than 500 families living near Mount Bulusan in Irosin, Sorsogon, fled their homes after the restive volcano exploded anew, spewing ash as high as two kilometers from the summit early Sunday morning, said a civil defense official.
OCD Region 5 Director Raffy Alejandro said they have received initial reports that some 500 families from two barangays in Irosin town and 600 families from Juban town evacuated when Mt. Bulusan exploded anew, sending ash and steam as high as 2,000 meters from the summit around 7:32 a.m. Sunday.
Alejandro said the latest explosion of the volcano lasted almost nine minutes.
According to the OCD 5 director, they are still validating the exact number of people that have fled following the latest activity of Mt. Bulusan, adding they have so far verified the evacuees from Irosin town to be "more or less 500 families."
From Juban town, Alejandro said they are now checking the exact figure of evacuees, saying latest information showed there were only 40 families who have left their homes after the explosion.
Data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction Coordinating and Management Council (NDRRMC) show some 2,712 families or 13,561 persons from 18 barangays in the towns of Casiguran, Juban, and Irosin are affected by the activity of the Mt. Bulusan.
Of the total number of affected population 404 families (or 2,020 persons) are from six barangays in Casiguran town, 14 families (or 71 persons) from four barangays in Juban town, anf 2,294 families (11,470 persons) from eight barangays in Irosin.
84 families (or 370 persons) were evacuated and served in eight evacuation centers, the NDRRMC added.
Alejandro said during Mt. Bulusan's latest activity Sunday, authorities did not have difficulty mobilizing the residents for evacuation as the explosion took place at day time. He added pregnant women and children were given priority in the evacuation.
The OCD 5 director also said there are still no plans to evacuate all those living within danger zone although they are continuously assessing the situation in cooperation with the provincial government while waiting for a recommendation come from Phivolcs.
He added so far, evacuations are being undertaken voluntarily by the affected residents.
RELATED NEWS
PHILVOLICS: AROUND 41 QWAKES RECORDED AROUND MT. BULUSAN GMANEWS TV 11/19/2010 | 10:09 AM
At least 41 volcanic quakes were recorded around restive Bulusan Volcano in the last 24 hours, state volcanologists said Friday.
But the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Bulusan's alert level remains at "1" and reminded residents not to enter the 4-km permanent danger zone.
"Bulusan Volcano's seismic network detected a total of 41 volcanic earthquakes during the past 24 hours. The summit of the volcano was cloud-covered for the same observation period," it said in its 8 a.m. update Friday.
Phivolcs raised the alert level at Bulusan to "1" last November 6 after the volcano spewed ash and steam.
On the other hand, Phivolcs also urged residents near the volcano to be vigilant against sudden steam explosions.
"People residing near valleys and streams are also advised to be vigilant against sediment-laden stream flows in the event of heavy and continuous rainfall," it added.
Also, residents in areas at the northwest and southwest sectors of the volcano are advised to take precautions against ash falls.
Earlier in the day, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRM) said an asthmatic man became the first fatality amid the heightened activity of Bulusan Volcano. (See: NDRRMC: Asthmatic man living near restive Bulusan Volcano dies)
The NDRRMC identified the fatality as Rolando Purino Jr., 28, of Cogon village in Irosin town in Sorsogon. — RSJ, GMANews.TV
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