Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III said he ordered the release of prepositioned supplies and face masks to residents affected by the phreatic eruption of Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon.
“I instructed that all the prepositioned supplies must already be distributed to the affected families and especially those in the evacuation centers,” Duque said during an interview with ANC.
“And I also already instructed the distribution of N-95 masks and N-88 surgical masks to protect our people from the ashfall and its impact on [the] eyes,” he added.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the eruption happened at 10:37 a.m. on Sunday which lasted for 16 minutes. The alert level of Mount Bulusan was raised to 1 or low-level unrest.
Ashfall was reported in Juban and Casiguran, Phivolcs said.
— Ronald Espartinez