The phreatic eruptions that started in late November seem to have slowed down, as evident from an apparent increase in intervals between ash explosions. There has been no great change in seismic character, with only a few daily earthquakes plus a few episodes of low-frequency tremor, some of which were probably related to steam jetting. An explosion at 2213 on 31 December ejected ash and was accompanied by rumbling and lightning flashes observed at Salvacion Monitoring Station (South). Areas affected were Cogon, Tinampo, Monbon, Bagsanga. Another ash explosion at 0008 on 7 January caused light ashfall at Barangay Cogon, Irosin (5-6 km from summit). At 1344 on 10 January, an ash explosion sent a plume 1 km above summit (1.5 km elevation) that drifted SSW. Very light ashfall was reported in villages up to 7 km SW.

Geological Summary. Luzon's southernmost volcano, Bulusan, was constructed along the rim of the 11-km-diameter dacitic-to-rhyolitic Irosin caldera, which was formed about 36,000 years ago. It lies at the SE end of the Bicol volcanic arc occupying the peninsula of the same name that forms the elongated SE tip of Luzon. A broad, flat moat is located below the topographically prominent SW rim of Irosin caldera; the NE rim is buried by the andesitic complex. Bulusan is flanked by several other large intracaldera lava domes and cones, including the prominent Mount Jormajan lava dome on the SW flank and Sharp Peak to the NE. The summit is unvegetated and contains a 300-m-wide, 50-m-deep crater. Three small craters are located on the SE flank. Many moderate explosive eruptions have been recorded since the mid-19th century.

Information Contacts: R. Punongbayan and E. Corpuz, PHIVOLCS.