Push Admin

FACT CHECK: Phivolcs denies Pinatubo belching smoke after powerful quake

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Mt. Pinatubo in Zambales province did not emit smoke following a powerful quake that rumbled across Luzon last week, the country&#x27;s head seismologist said Tuesday. An article on Philnews.ph claimed that state seismology agency Phivolcs supposedly found &quot;irregularities&quot; in Pinatubo following the Magnitude 6.1 quake that was centered in Castillejos, Zambales on April 22. The &quot;smoke&quot; supposedly emitted by the volcano is actually volcanic ash disturbed by falling rocks during the quake and swept by the wind, said Phivolcs Executive Director Renato Solidum. &quot;Noon pong nagkalindol, nagka-landslide at kapag gumugulong iyung mga bato, iyung abo ng &#x27;91 eruption saka iyung mga volcanic ash na luma ay napapagpag ng hangin,&quot; he told radio DZMM. (When the quake struck, a landslide occurred and when rocks roll, dust from the 1991 eruption and old volcanic ash are swept by the wind.) It will likely take &quot;many&quot; years before there will be a repeat of Pinatubo&#x27;s 1991 eruption that killed thousands and left parts of neighboring Tarlac and Pampanga provinces buried in lahar, said Solidum. &quot;Wala siyang pinapakitang anumang activity at sa tingin natin magkakaroon pa ng napakaraming taon, daantaon, para makaipon s&#x27;ya ulit ng magma na maraming gas,&quot; he said. (Pinatubo is not showing any activity and we think that there will be many years, a century, for it to store enough magma rich in gas again.) Phivolcs, he said, also eyes building up to 10 new quake monitoring stations every year, putting priority in areas that are not yet densely populated. Last week&#x27;s quake was felt in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, worst in Pampanga, where it flattened several buildings. The temblor left at least 18 dead.

Mt. Pinatubo in Zambales province did not emit smoke following a powerful quake that rumbled across Luzon last week, the country's head seismologist said Tuesday.

Mt. Pinatubo in Zambales province did not emit smoke following a powerful quake that rumbled across Luzon last week, the country's head seismologist said Tuesday.