El Salvador’s
largest volcano erupted on 1 October this year after lying dormant
for more than a century. Hurling out hot lava rocks, the eruption
killed at least two people and forced more than 2,000 to flee. The
Santa Ana or Llimatepec Volcano, located 66 kilometers west of the
capital, rumbled and belched thick plumes of smoke that reached more
than 15 kilometers into the sky just after 8:30 a.m.
Military emergency
sirens sounded, calling for an immediate area evacuation of all the
hamlets in the coffee- growing area. Soon glowing lava and ash gushed
from the crater of the volcano. The National Emergency Committee (COEN)
reported that 5,000 people were evacuated from the danger zone and
placed in 20 shelters.
The ACT Forum
in El Salvador had been monitoring the situation two weeks
prior to the eruption. They informed residents in the area about the
risks and invited them to evacuate. Unfortunately, their work was
not supported by the local government and the evacuation of the majority
of the population only took place the day of the eruption. The
Lutheran Church in El Salvador is sheltering 25 families and providing
food assistance to other shelters. They are planing on opening another
shelter in Santa Ana for other families displaced by this disaster.
The ACT El Salvador
Forum reports that the situation is potentially very dangerous if
the lava eruption increases as expected. The Forum is assessing the
needs of the people and an appeal may be forthcoming.
