Dust clouds, not ‘ash fall,’ says Phivolcs of Pinatubo activity after quake
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Thu, 25 Apr 2019 10:29:09 +0000
THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) dispelled fears of volcanic activity after residents observed smoke emissions or “ash fall” on the side of two dormant volcanoes in Zambales, which was struck by a 6.1 magnitude earthquake on Monday.
Residents from the villages of Santa Fe, San Marcelino and Sitios Yangil and Banawen in San Felipe; and Nabuclod, Floridablanca, Inararo and Camias in Porac, Pampanga have expressed concern over the smoke emissions that were seen on Mt. Pinatubo and Mt. Negron.
Phivolcs said that the smoke were dust clouds based on the assessment of the team on the field.
“The reported steaming and other related observations are dust clouds generated by rockslides, which were subsequently blown by the wind. These rockslides resulted from the strong ground shaking produced by the M6.1 earthquake and succeeding aftershocks,” Phivolcs said in a statement.
Phivolcs said the team inside the crater when the earthquake occurred have not observed any steaming activity before, during, and after the tremor. Phivolcs instruments have also not detected any volcanic activity.
“So far, the Pinatubo Volcano Seismic Monitoring network has not detected any changes in the condition of the volcano after the occurrence of the M6.1 earthquake that may indicate any sign of volcanic unrest,” Phivolcs said.
Phivolcs assured the public that it would relay information of any development in its 24-hour monitoring.
Mt. Pinatubo erupted on June 15, 1991, 100 years after its last eruption. It led to the closure of US military bases, displaced over one million people and damaged P10 billion worth of infrastructure. DIVINA NOVA JOY DELA CRUZ
The post Dust clouds, not ‘ash fall,’ says Phivolcs of Pinatubo activity after quake appeared first on The Manila Times Online.