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.
For further information please contact:
ACT Director, Jenny Borden (phone +41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone + 41
79 203 6055) or ACT Programme Officer, Elsa Moreno, (phone +41 22 791 6420
or mobile phone +41 79 608 8133)