Hijjah 06, 1431, Nov 12, 2010, SPA -- A volcano in the eastern Philippines on Friday spewed a new plume of ash and steam, jolting residents around the rumbling mountain, as dpa reported. The early-morning ash explosion at Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon province, 250 kilometres south-east of Manila, came after a lull in its activity for two days. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the ash and steam cloud rose to about 700 metres from the volcano's summit and drifted toward villages in the south-west. "Prior to the ash explosion, weak steaming was observed from the crater," it said. The institute reiterated its warning against airplanes flying near Bulusan and its appeal to residents around the volcano to be on watch for mudflows. "The public is strongly advised not to enter [the 4-kilometre permanent danger zone around the volcano] because it may be affected by sudden steam explosions," it said. Nearly 300 residents living at the foot of Bulusan have evacuated their homes since the volcano began spewing ash November 6. According to the military, up to 80,000 residents from 70 villages could be affected if Bulusan's activity escalates. Bulusan is one of the country's 23 active volcanoes. Its last eruption was in 2006. While the activity lasted for months, no one was hurt.
