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.