Mount Bulusan erupts, alert level raised to 1 due to ash plume

Mount Bulusan, an active volcano in the central Philippines, erupted early Monday, sending a 4.5 km-high ash plume and triggering ashfall in several nearby communities. The eruption, classified as phreatic (steam-driven), lasted about 24 minutes and was preceded by 53 volcanic earthquakes detected in the previous 24 hours, indicating heightened underground activity. Authorities raised the alert level from 0 to 1, signaling low-level volcanic unrest and warning of possible future eruptions. A pyroclastic density current descended the volcano’s southwestern slopes, traveling up to 3 kilometers from the summit. Residents were advised to avoid a 4-kilometer permanent danger zone and exercise vigilance within an extended 2-kilometer zone due to the risk of further eruptions, falling debris, and ash inhalation. Civil aviation authorities also warned pilots to avoid flying near the volcano’s summit due to hazardous ash clouds.