Vincentians in 'red zone' without permission to be arrested

AS DOZENS of Vincentians continue to refuse to leave areas surrounding the La Soufriere volcano, the police are taking matters into their own hands. Anyone caught there, in  the “red zone” will be arrested and prosecuted.

The National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) announced this on Monday afternoon. The volcano erupted three times on Friday and activity has been increasing. An evacuation order was issued on Thursday for those in the “red zone” in the northern part of the island.

Vincentian reporters told Newsday last week that some people refused to leave the area. This was confirmed by the country’s Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Transport, Works, Lands and Physical Planning Montgomery Daniel and Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves on Monday. They were speaking at a virtual media conference.

Daniel said when he visited Sandy Bay over the weekend, he saw nearly three dozen people walking the street as if it was life as usual within the red zone. Some social media users also claimed people were remaining in the red zone in order to loot.

Daniel said many roofs have collapsed and sheds are completely destroyed. He added, “The ashfall in some areas would have been so deep that all of the vegetation would have been covered. There’s not a single blade (of a crop) outside on some of these farms...There is not going to be very much food in that area for some time.”

Gonsalves said between Monday evening and Tuesday, a decision would be made on whether to end the evacuation services of minibuses and other transport. He said, “They had that option. So if they don’t want to take up that option, fine.”

NEMO posted several warnings to social media on Monday for those who decided to stay. But in a later update, it said, “Anyone caught in the red zone without permission of the police will be immediately arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. This will apply whether you are a usual resident of the area or not.”

There were mixed views about the decision in the comments.

One user said, “Please make all police come out of the red zone. Do not put their lives in danger. If people want to stay there, leave them. Just make sure all kids and crippled persons out.”

But another said, “It shouldn’t be part of anyone’s job to chase after stupid people. Everyone has been warned. If people want to die up there, let them be.

DANGER IS REAL

“Now that pyroclastic flows are happening, the danger is real. Nobody can outrun that, not even cars. Nobody should have to risk their lives because people can’t hear.” A pyroclastic flow is a fast-moving current of hot gas and volcanic matter that flows along the ground away from a volcano at average speeds of 100 km/h but is capable of reaching up to 700 km/h.

On Sunday, Prof Richard Robertson of UWI’s Seismic Research Centre said both the 1979 and 2020/2021 domes of the volcano have now been destroyed and column collapsing is now occurring. He warned of the resulting life-threatening pyroclastic flows, which he called “moving masses of destruction.” Pyroclastic flow is made up of fast-moving lava pieces, ash and hot gases.

But on Monday, he said this is not expected to reach the southern parts of the island. “We could all go ahead living our lives as best as we can. That’s the positive take, I think,” he said. Around 4.15 am on Monday, there was a large explosion at the volcano.

In its 6 am scientific update, the centre said, “Since midday on April 11, the time between episodes of high-amplitude tremor has lengthened from 1.5 to four hours to five to eight hours.”

Police have reported an increased number of prank calls since the volcano’s first eruption. In a press release, they said, “The Telecommunications Centre of the Royal SVG Police Force have been receiving prank calls about fires and other unfounded occurrences about the explosive eruption of the La Soufriere volcano in different communities...desist from making these calls. You can be prosecuted!

“We are in the middle of a serious evacuation and security exercise, to safeguard and rescue persons who are affected by the eruption. These irresponsible calls divert much-needed resources and personnel from the evacuation exercise. Please be responsible and stop making these prank calls.”

As for the covid19 virus, the country’s chief medical officer Dr Simone Keizer-Beache said there have been no confirmed cases at any of the 100-plus shelters thus far. She said rapid antigen testing is being done and people are also being vaccinated. Over 12,000 people in St Vincent have been vaccinated against the virus to date. See Page 11