US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim announced that the US government would give $100,000 or around P5.1 million to Taal Volcano eruption victims, Wednesday.
Kim visited an evacuation center in Batangas, the Nasugbu West Central School, and made the announcement. The ambassador met with the local officials to know their needs and met with the evacuees.
The US Embassy said the said financial assistance would be provided through World Vision, its USAID Philippines partner.
“The distribution of relief supplies will support 1,900 households comprised of approximately 7,600 people who had to evacuate their homes following the Taal volcano eruptions,” it said in a post on Facebook Wednesday.
US to give $100K for Taal Volcano eruption victims
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported on Wednesday 71,717 families were affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.
PHIVOLCS said the volcano is still under Alert Level 4, which means it can have a hazardous explosion within days.
The province of Batangas was placed under a state of calamity on January 13, as well as nearby Cavite on January 15.
Philvocs also released a hazard map showing the list of barangays in Batangas susceptible to the Taal Volcano tsunami or lakewater oscillation.
According to PHIVOLCS, volcano tsunami, ballistic projectile, and base surge could occur should the Taal Volcano makes massive eruption.
PHIVOLCS said the ballistic projectile or materials spewed from the vent of the volcano might reach 5 kilometers from the crater.
The base surge or pyroclastic density current with gas and volcanic rock may reach 14 kilometers from the main crater.
A possible volcanic tsunami with height expected to be up to 3 meters could also occur should a strong eruption happen.