Earthquake jolts Batanes as restive Bulusan volcano calms down

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The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) noted in its earthquake bulletin issued at 10:37AM a magnitude 5.6 temblor whcih struck the Batanes province on dawn of Monday.

The quake agency traced the location at 65 kilometers west of Sabtang town and happened at 2:20 AM. With a depth of 17 kilometers, the earthquake was tectonic in origin.

Local areas also felt the shaker at Intenstiy 5 in the towns of Sabtang, Uyugan, Ivana and Mahatao with Intensity 4 in Basco, Itbayat and Pamplona, Cagayan in main island of Luzon.

Meanwhile, the restivenes of Mt. Bulusan has calmed down after a seven-minute steam-driven ash explosion at 1:03 p.m. Sunday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said Monday.

Resident volcanologist Crispolo Deolata said the Philvolcs recorded two quakes during the past 24-hour observation period. The tip of the volcano is under a canopy of cloud as parts of Sorsogon province experience a drizzle.

The Sunday blast was mild and the ash spewed 300 meters high with sharp contrast from the June 10 phreatic explosion as high as two kilometers.

The ash fell on the surrounding villages with an approxiamte 8,000 residents affected.

While Sunday’s event registered only two quakes, the Phivolcs recorded more than 100 jolts on June 10.

The volcanologist warns the volcano still poses danger to residents as a phreatic explosion may occur anytime while alert level one is raised.

With the onset of rains possible lahar flows could bring down old and new deposits in Barangays Cogon and Patag in Irosin and Barangay Aniog in Juban.

The most common recepient of ash fall are barangays Inlagadian and Mabini in Casiguran, and Puting Sapa and Aniog in Juban town. (PNA)

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