MANILA — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has expressed concerns over the escalating seismic activity at Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon province.
Phivolcs Director Teresito “Toto” Bacolcol stated that if the current trend continues, there is a likelihood of raising the volcano’s alert status to Level 2.
The advisory, issued on Tuesday night, follows a notable increase in seismic activity over the past few days. As of December 29, 2023, the Bulusan Volcano Network (BVN) has recorded a total of 116 volcanic earthquakes.
Among these, 110 were identified as volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes linked to rock fracturing beneath the southern flanks, occurring at depths of two to six kilometers. Additionally, six low-frequency volcanic earthquakes (LFVQ) were recorded, associated with the movement of volcanic fluids.
Phivolcs Chief Bacolcol emphasized that ground deformation data points towards inflation or swelling of the southwestern and southeastern slopes. The institute remains vigilant, closely monitoring these parameters to determine whether an elevation to Alert Level 2 is warranted.
(El Amigo/MNM)