SORSOGON CITY –- With anxiety being felt around Mt. Bulusan after its exploded anew Tuesday morning here, officials at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) expressed disgust over the recent loss of two important seismic instruments to unidentified thieves.

        Orlando Guardacasa, Phivolcs science research specialist based in the province of Sorsogon said the absence of the instruments hampered their task to effectively monitor the abnormal condition of the volcano.

        “This is the contributory factor why we failed to monitor the abnormal condition of the volcano, including the monitoring of mild earthquakes that came with the explosions,” Guardacasa explained.

        The two missing instruments were put up in the upper slopes of the volcano within the western side of Bgys. Salvacion and Mayong-Payong, both in Irosin, Sorsogon.

        When asked if there was a possibility for a big bang, Ed Laguerta, Phivolcs resident volcanologist, said yes. “We are closely watching the activity of Mt. Bulusan because major eruption is not remote,” he said.

        At least eleven mild earthquakes were recorded since the volcano became restive the past few days.

        Mt. Bulusan, classified as a composite volcano, is part of the Bicol volcanic chain that stretches from Camarines Norte to Sorsogon in the south.

        Laguerta warned the public not to venture inside the 4-kilomter radius permanent danger zone.

        He also advised residents near riverbanks and stream channels to be always on alert against mudflows and ash deposit flows which may be triggered by heavy rainfalls.