Bulusan volcano spewed ash early Monday, emitting an ash plume 4,500 meters high, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said the phreatic eruption started at 4:36 a.m. and lasted 24 minutes, with ash drifting in a south-southwest direction. 

"We will watch closely Bulusan volcano. In April 21, we noticed the increase in volcanic earthquakes, with more than 50 volcanic earthquakes recorded in 24 hours. We will see if there will be be a more violent eruption," he said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview. 

Bulusan volcano's last phreatic eruption was in June 2022.

Bacolcol said volcanic ash, which is composed of fragments of volcanic rock, dust and minerals, could cause irritation on the eyes, nose and throat. He urged residents to wear N95 or surgical masks.

Arvee Lodronio, municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer of Juban, Sorsogon, said the ash reached barangays Puting Sapa and Guruyan, prompting some residents to leave their homes.

The ash has also reached Barangay Cogon in Irosin, Sorsogon.

Phivolcs advised local government units and the public to refrain from venturing into the 4-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ), particularly near the vents on the south-southeastern slopes, due to the possible threat of sudden volcanic hazards such as rockfall, landslide, ballistic projectiles, small pyroclastic density currents