Mt. Bulusan (File photo)
MANILA – The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has observed an increase in seismic activity in Bulusan, but raising the volcano's alert level is unlikely for now.
"The number of earthquakes is just one of the parameters that we are looking at when it comes to raising (a volcano's) alert level," Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol told the Philippine News Agency on Monday.
Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon province has been on Alert Level 0 (normal) since January.
However, the Phivolcs, in an advisory on Sunday night, said 87 volcanic earthquakes were recorded since 5 a.m. of Oct. 14.
Volcanic earthquakes are caused by movements or eruptions of magma from the volcano compared to tectonic quakes which are caused by fault movements.
Twenty-nine of the recorded earthquakes were volcano-tectonic or associated with rock fissuring processes and occurred 1 to 8 kms. beneath the southern and western sectors of the volcano.
"We will assess this on a day-to-day basis. If there would be a dramatic increase of other parameters, then (Phivolcs) would raise the alert level," Bacolcol said.
The advisory added that "degassing at the active summit crater and vents have been weak to moderate this week, while volcanic SO2 (sulfur dioxide) gas emission last October 19 averaged near background values at 241 tonnes/day."
Meanwhile, Bacolcol urged the public to stay away from the 4-km. area around the volcano or the permanent danger zone.
"This is because there might be sudden and dangerous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions, falling rocks and landslides," he said. (PNA)
"The number of earthquakes is just one of the parameters that we are looking at when it comes to raising (a volcano's) alert level," Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol told the Philippine News Agency on Monday.
Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon province has been on Alert Level 0 (normal) since January.
However, the Phivolcs, in an advisory on Sunday night, said 87 volcanic earthquakes were recorded since 5 a.m. of Oct. 14.
Volcanic earthquakes are caused by movements or eruptions of magma from the volcano compared to tectonic quakes which are caused by fault movements.
Twenty-nine of the recorded earthquakes were volcano-tectonic or associated with rock fissuring processes and occurred 1 to 8 kms. beneath the southern and western sectors of the volcano.
"We will assess this on a day-to-day basis. If there would be a dramatic increase of other parameters, then (Phivolcs) would raise the alert level," Bacolcol said.
The advisory added that "degassing at the active summit crater and vents have been weak to moderate this week, while volcanic SO2 (sulfur dioxide) gas emission last October 19 averaged near background values at 241 tonnes/day."
Meanwhile, Bacolcol urged the public to stay away from the 4-km. area around the volcano or the permanent danger zone.
"This is because there might be sudden and dangerous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions, falling rocks and landslides," he said. (PNA)
