Philippine volcano monitored

Philippine volcano monitored

MANILA (Agencies): Experts are monitoring a volcano in the
eastern Philippines which has been rumbling with an increasing
number of earthquakes, officials said yesterday.

The officials said an abnormally large number of minor quakes
had been rocking Bulusan volcano in eastern Sorsogon province
since March 5, prompting them to issue the first of a five-level
danger alert.

Bulusan, one of the country's 22 active volcanoes, last
erupted in 1994 but caused no damage or casualties.

Meanwhile, officials said yesterday that Mount Apo, the
highest peak in the Philippines and a popular tourist attraction,
would be indefinitely closed to trekkers after a spate of fires.

Most of the recent fires on the 3,125-meter Mount Apo affected
bushes and small clusters of trees.