Pray for people hit by Taal unrest, Bacolod bishop asks Catholics

BACOLOD CITY – Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon called on the faithful to pray for the safety of the people affected by the unrest of Taal Volcano after a phreatomagmatic eruption on Thursday afternoon.

“In solidarity with the communities that are affected by the eruption of Taal volcano today, July 1, I am calling on our parishes and chaplaincies to offer masses and prayer intentions starting tomorrow for the safety and protection of our people in those areas,” the bishop said.

The main crater of Taal Volcano generated a short-lived one-kilometer high phreatomagmatic plume, prompting the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to raise its alert level to 3.

It means that there is magmatic intrusion at the main crater that may further drive succeeding eruptions.

Phivolcs strongly recommended Taal Volcano Island and high-risk barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel, Batangas, to be evacuated due to the possible hazards of pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami.