Pope prays for people affected by the La Soufrière eruption
As La Soufrière volcano on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent continued erupting, belching out gas and thick ash, which forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people, Pope Francis offered his prayers.
He has expressed his spiritual closeness and solidarity with those affected by the eruption of the La Sourfrière volcano in St Vincent and the Grenadines. Authorities in the Caribbean island nation have ordered thousands of people to avoid a humanitarian disaster.
“His Holiness Pope Francis sends the assurance of his spiritual closeness to all those affected by the recent eruption of La Soufrière volcano and expresses his heartfelt solidarity with the many displaced persons forced to evacuate their homes and seek shelter from the effects of this disaster,” said a telegram sent to local church leaders by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state.
“Praying in a particular way for the emergency personnel and volunteers providing relief assistance, His Holiness entrusts the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to the loving providence of almighty God,” said the message released by the Vatican April 23.
The volcano began its latest eruption on 9 April, after more than 40 years of inactivity. An eruption in 1902 caused about 1,680 deaths, while the most recent eruption, in 1979, did not cause casualties thanks to an early warning. State authorities have ordered the evacuation of part of St. Vincent Island due to the "potentially disastrous" scope of the current emergency.
With the eruptions continuing, ash lies thick over much of the island, making it dangerous to breathe and severely damaging crops and drinking water supplies.
The United Nations appealed on April 20 for close to $30 million in disaster relief to provide emergency aid to the people and help fund the ash removal.
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