Clark Freeport—The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology is keeping a tight watch on Mount Pinatubo following reports of “unusual” smoke emitting from different areas near the volcano’s summit.
“The Department of Science and Technology-Phivolcs is closely monitoring 24/7 the Pinatubo Volcano. So far, the Pinatubo volcano-seismic monitoring network has not detected any changes in the condition of the volcano after the magnitude 6.1 earthquake [on April 22],” said Phivolcs in a statement posted on social media.
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Philvolcs, however, said the steam activity may have been caused by rock slides.
The generation of dust clouds, blown by winds, was verified by a team of volcanologist who went to Sitio Pasbul, Barangay Camias, Porac, Pampanga on April 24.
Residents near the volcano have observed poor to zero visibility shortly after the earthquake, apparently brought by ash fall at Barangays Sta Fe, San Marcelino, Yangil and Banawen in San Felipe, Zambales. Similar events have been noticed in Brgys. Nabuclod in Floridablanca and Brgys. Inararo and Camias both in Porac, Pampanga.
“These observations were relayed to us after the earthquake that raised concerns on the effect of temblor on the volcano,” Phivolcs said.
The April 22 earthquake, left damages to private and government infrastructure including Chuzon Supermarket in Porac town that left more than a dozen of people pinned to death, according to Pampanga Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) headed by Angie Blanco.
The quake killed 18 people, including at least nine in a flattened supermarket in Porac Pampanga.
It also did P505.9 million in damage to more than 300 structures in Metro Manila, the Ilocos, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon, with Central Luzon bearing the brunt of the damage.
Phivolcs said there were no signs of volcanic unrest following the April 22 earthquake.
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