MikeLigalig.com

Mount Bulusan on Monday belched an ash column three kilometers high from the crater summit, indicating that steam driven pressure is building up at the volcano’s vent, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Civil aviation authorities advised pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano's summit as ejected ash and volcanic fragments from sudden explosions may be hazardous to aircraft.

Furthermore, people living near valleys and river/stream channels should be vigilant against sediment-laden stream flows and lahars in the event of heavy and prolonged rainfall.

Phivolcs said the explosions that occurred at 9:12 a.m. on Monday was recorded as explosion type earthquake lasting for about 19 minutes.

Ed Laguerta, Phivolcs resident volcanologist, said the ash explosion was also accompanied by rumbling sound which was heard up to 10 kilometers away in Juban town in Sorsogon.

The ash column that shot up into the air drifted to the southwest of the volcano flank as preliminary filed investigation by the agency traced the presence of ash deposits in Barangay Monbon and Irosin town proper.