PHILIPPINE BULUSAN ERUPT, BLANKETING IROSIN TOWN WITH ASH

MANILA, Philippines - Bulusan, a volcano in Bicol, southern Luzon, erupted with a three-kilometre ash column that descended on a town with 46,000 residents, the Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.
"The eruption started with a loud sound from the raging crater of the 1,559 metre tall Bulusan. A blanket of ash fell on Irosin town which became pitch dark until early afternoon," Phivolcs said, adding the volcanic activity was "hydrothermal and shallow".

"We expected this. We are on Alert Level 1. At this stage, it is possible to have steam-triggered explosions which are not really very strong," Renato Solidum, Phivolcs director said.

"People are advised not to enter Bulusan's four-kilometre permanent danger zone," Solidum said, adding that aircraft were advised to steer clear from the erupting volcano to avoid their engines from being clogged by volcanic ash.

Source: Agency