Volcanic debris from Japan now have reached Batanes shores

𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) issued a warning on Tuesday concerning the threats posed by the presence of pumice stones and volcanic debris along the coastlines of Batanes province.

The volcanic debris was initially found in Batanes on November 21 in the bays of the Batan and Sabtang islands.

The volcanic debris came from the Fukutoku-Okanoba, an underwater volcano in the Bonin Island group, Japan that erupted last August 13, 2021, located more than 2,000 kilometers northeast of Batanes and Aparri, Cagayan.

According to PHIVOLCS, these stones and ashes, can harm boats and motors, clog drainage lines, and kill marine animals if they ingest them. The agency also expressed concern about the potential of leached volcanic sulfur contaminating seawater.

For the meantime, people have been advised to avoid swimming and other beach activities since volcanic material reduces vision and might inflict abrasions when swimming beneath it. This also decreases the risk of ingesting seawater contaminated with possibly dangerous volcanic materials.

PHIVOLCS advised the local government to coordinate with the Office of Civil Defense to deploy the Philippine Coast Guard to notify marine vehicles about the existence of pumice and other volcanic materials, as well as to control the debris.