1 of 2 THE PINATUBO Volcano Observatory located within the Pampanga Agricultural State University in the town of Magalang. — PHIVOLCS.DOST.GOV.PH Mt. Pinatubo alert level raised, but no ‘imminent eruption’ forecast THE alert warning for Mt. Pinatubo, located in the central Luzon area, was raised on Thursday to level 1 from 0 due to continued seismic activities, but no “imminent eruption is foreseen,” according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). In its Mar. 4 bulletin, Phivolcs said 1,722 “imperceptible” earthquakes have been detected under the volcano’s range since Jan. 20. The tremors’ local magnitude range between 0.2 to 2.8. Phivolcs recommends staying away from the Pinatubo crater or be done with extreme caution if unavoidable. “Communities and local government units surrounding Pinatubo are reminded to be always prepared for both earthquake and volcanic hazards and to review, prepare and strengthen their contingency, emergency and other disaster preparedness plans,” the agency said. Phivolcs, a unit under the Department of Science and Technology, also assured that it “continues to strengthen its monitoring of the volcano with ongoing upgrades to the Pinatubo Volcano Network and periodic geochemical surveys of the Pinatubo crater lake and satellite analysis of ground deformation.” Mt. Pinatubo last erupted on June 15, 1991, considered as the second largest volcanic eruption in recorded history. The volcano straddles provinces of Tarlac, Pampanga, and Zambales. —