Last Sunday, a volcano in the Philippines erupted, resulting in the evacuation of around 1,500 families.
The volcano, Mount Bulusan, is in Sorsogon (Bicol Region). It’s part of the southernmost region of Luzon. It’s about 320 miles (517 km) away from Manila and just 43 miles (55km) away from Albay, the capital of that province.
What do we know about it so far?
The eruption rained ash 5 kilometers around the volcano. Bulusan isn’t heavily populated. The ones affected are mainly farmers and those working in the agricultural sector.
It looks like the worst of it is over. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) lowered the alert level, but people can’t go back home yet.
They’re hoping for fair weather because heavy rains can cause a lahar flow. Lahar (volcanic ash, mud, and debris) flow is when all stuff flows down the volcano to the surrounding area. It causes more damage than a typical flood or landslide because lahar hardens like concrete, making recovery harder.
Volcanic eruptions happen regularly in the Philippines. I explained why this is in a newsletter early this year. https://johnjonas.com/why-natural-disasters-happen-regularly-in-the-philippines/
If you have an OFS in Sorsogon, ask them how they’re doing.
Also, pay attention in the coming weeks for any aftermath. Last time this happened winds rained ash all over the place causing major problems.
John