These Wedding Photos In Front of an Erupting Volcano are Stunning — And Super Dangerous
Just after Arlo Gerald de la Cruz and Maria Hussa Maica Nicerio exchanged vows on January 25, the couple went to take photographs. The lovely images capture romantic embraces and sunset kisses — and, somewhat surprisingly, a massive volcano actively erupting right behind them.
According to CBS, the photos were taken at the Our Lady of Gate, Daraga Church in Albay, Philippines, not long after Mount Mayon erupted at 5:50 p.m. local time. It's a somewhat rare event, CBS noted, as Mayon has only erupted 50 times in the last 500 years.
Though the couple appears blissful in the images, many are criticizing their decision to take photos during the destructive event.
As Travel + Leisure previously reported, tens of thousands of people in the area were forced to evacuate because of the volcanic activity, while schools and hospitals were closed due to the eruption. Airlines, including Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines, were also forced to ground or reroute flights.
“We are worried. We got used to the volcano, but we are still afraid," Irene Agao, a woman forced to evacuate from the town, told Reuters.
According to ABC, the volcano isn’t expected to quiet down any time soon and could continue to spew ash and lava for days or even months to come. At this time, the volcano remains at an alert level of four on a five-point scale, which indicates that a more violent eruption is still possible.
Though no injuries have been reported, locals are encouraging people to keep a safe distance. Which is precisely why you might want to consider taking your wedding photos elsewhere.
