Faith leaders pray for victims of Indonesian volcano eruption

Photo by USGS on Unsplash Pu'u 'O'o on Hawai'i Kilauea

Source: Vatican News/UCAN

Pope Francis has said he is praying "for the dead, the injured and the displaced as well as for the emergency personnel and civil authorities engaged in recovery efforts" following the eruption of Mount Semeru in Indonesia. In a message to Archbishop Piero Pioppo, Apostolic Nuncio in Indonesia, signed on his behalf by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope said he was saddened to learn of the recent loss of life and destruction caused by the eruption.

The Pope also assured all those affected by the disaster of his invocations "upon all the divine blessings of strength and peace."

Speaking on behalf of the World Council of Churches, general secretary Ioan Sauca said: "Amid the chaos and the loss, we pray for you, we stand in solidarity with you, and we want to share our condolences with the families and loved ones of the victims... We pray for God's mercy on those who are injured. We pray that God might guide the churches and the rescue workers responding to the needs of the people.

"We want to assure you that our solidarity and prayers will be ongoing as you continue to cope with the devastation of this disaster," said Sauca.

Today, Indonesian President Joko Widodo promised to increase evacuation efforts and repair damaged homes after visiting the site of the eruption on Java that has killed at least 34 people.

The 3,676-metre Mt. Semeru volcano the tallest volcano on Java, erupted on Saturday sending a cloud of ash into the sky and dangerous pyroclastic flows into villages below. Thousands of people have been displaced and 22 remain missing, according to the disaster mitigation agency. Search and rescue efforts have been hampered by wind and rain, and limited equipment in some areas.

Mt Semeru erupted again three times on Tuesday. Indonesia's Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation said there was potential for further flows of hot gas, ash and rocks. Mt Semeru is one of more than 100 active volcanoes in Indonesia, in an area of high seismic activity atop multiple tectonic plates known as the 'Pacific Ring of Fire'.

People living up to six miles away from the volcano have been urged to evacuate. Mount Semeru last erupted in January and is considered one of Indonesia's most active volcanos.