🇵🇭 PHILIPPINES RAISES ALERT AFTER BULUSAN VOLCANO ERUPTS
Bulusan Volcano just lost its chill and exploded ash 4,500 meters high like it was showing off.
Scientists raised the alert to Level 1, meaning “don’t freak out yet, but maybe keep your shoes by the door.”
Ash blanketed… pic.twitter.com/B5xzhSU0TD
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 28, 2025
Evacuations are active in zones around Bulusan, with LGUs and PHIVOLCS moving fast—shelters up, masks distributed, and roadblocks stopping risk-takers.
Ashfall is still a major threat, especially for those with health issues, so authorities are pushing for compliance and…
— Alva (@AlvaApp) April 28, 2025
Bulusan Erupts! 🌋
At 4:36 AM today, Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon roared to life, sending ash into the air and blanketing Barangay Cogon, Irosin.
Phivolcs has raised the alert status to Level 1, signaling abnormal volcanic activity. 🛑
The eruption lasted until around 5:00 AM — a… pic.twitter.com/qCpxQo0ck1— BusinessMirror (@BusinessMirror) April 28, 2025
On April 28, 2025, Bulusan Volcano sent a jolt through the sleeping countryside of Sorsogon province. Without warning, the earth groaned, and a column of ash exploded 4,500 meters into the early morning sky. The blast, violent and unrelenting, lasted for 24 straight minutes. In that short time, life for thousands of Filipinos shifted from normal to uncertain.
For days before the eruption, signs of trouble brewed beneath the surface. Scientists recorded 53 volcanic earthquakes within a single 24-hour period. Fifteen minutes before the eruption, local officials heard the deep rumbling sounds that often precede something terrible. It was as if the mountain itself was giving a final warning before tearing through the calm.
Ash rained down across several barangays in the towns of Irosin and Juban. The once familiar streets of Barangay Puting Sapa disappeared under thick layers of volcanic dust. Crops, homes, and water supplies fell under the shadow of Bulusan’s wrath. Residents scrambled to cover their faces, using masks or wet cloths, desperate to avoid breathing in the fine, choking ash that can destroy lungs and lead to long-term health problems.
Pyroclastic density currents, deadly rivers of ash and rock, surged down the southwestern slopes, coming within three kilometers of the summit. For the people living in the permanent danger zone, there was no need for a second warning. They had seen this before. Many remembered the past eruptions and knew exactly how quickly fire and ash could consume a life.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the alert level from 0 to 1. It was not a full-scale disaster yet. It was a signal, a sharp reminder that the mountain was awake and angry. Authorities closed off the four-kilometer permanent danger zone. Those living within the two-kilometer extended danger zone were urged to stay alert, ready to flee at a moment’s notice. Warnings about ballistic projectiles, rockfalls, and the threat of future pyroclastic flows were broadcast through every available channel.
Aviation warnings blared across the region as pilots were ordered to avoid the summit. Ash clouds at high altitudes can cripple engines and bring down planes in minutes. In this part of the world, volcanic hazards are not a rare event. The Philippines, home to 24 active volcanoes, sits directly on the Pacific Ring of Fire. The land is beautiful but treacherous, shaped and reshaped by the forces of fire and earth.
Those living near valleys and river channels faced another deadly threat. Heavy rains could send sediment-laden streams and lahars roaring down the slopes, wiping out everything in their path. Officials warned that with the coming rainy season, these threats could intensify quickly.
No official casualties were reported at the time. However, the full toll on crops, livestock, and livelihoods would become clear in the days to come. For now, survival was the only priority.
The eruption served as a brutal reminder that nature never asks permission before reclaiming what belongs to it. Preparedness here is not optional. It is survival. Having masks, evacuation plans, and knowing the routes away from danger zones is the bare minimum. Those who wait until the mountain roars again may not have time to act.
Sources: