Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon Province is currently on Alert Level 1. According to Phivolcs, this indicates that hydrothermal processes may be underway beneath the volcano that may lead to more steam-driven eruptions.
On Monday, May 11, 2015, Tarabang para sa Bicol, Inc. (TABI), the regional partner of the Citizen’s Disaster Response Network (CDRC) in Bicol, together with the Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management(A-PAD) met with Sorsogon DRR officials for an update on the situation of Mount Buusan. Also discussed during the meeting with Engr. Raden Dimaano, SPDRRMO Chief, was the state of business sector, government and civil society cooperation for disaster risk reduction in the province of Sorsogon.
The team also visited the most at risk community, Barangay Gogon in the Municipality of Irosin, where 95 families were moved to government shelters on May 8-10, 2015, as part of pre-emptive evacuation measures during Typhoon Dodong (Noul).
In case of an eruption, the towns of Casiguran, Juban, Irosin, Gubat, Barcelona and Bulusan, will be affected. About 19,000 families with 97,000 individulas from 70 barangays are at risk to lahar and pyroclastic flows. However, local DRR officials have yet to complete the risk assessment and mapping to determine the specific families with houses and livelihood activities within the designated Mount Bulusan danger zone.
TABI and CDRC/A-PAD staff has established open communication lines with SPDRRMO, Irosin MDRRMO and PHIVOCS to facilitate coordination and to closely monitor the situation.
Meanwhile, nearby Mayon Volcano in Albay Province remains at Alert Level 2.
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