Government and Residents Prepare for Possible Volcano Eruption (continued)

Under the direction of Maurcio Ferrer, the National Emergency Committee (COEN) began evacuation simulations on September 13. Residents of San Blas were surprised when the COEN arrived without previous warning and felt that the simulation was disorganized. Victor Manuel Dominguez, the director of the local school suggested COEN’s motivation was political. “Tuesday’s actions are a product of political campaigning and looking for as many media opportunities as possible to say that they are doing something for the people who are at risk because of the Santa Ana volcano.”

Some residents of San Blas decided on Thursday, September 15, to evacuate their community without being ordered by COEN and without their help. About 100 of the more than 250 residents, mostly women and children, were transported to a shelter in San Isidro, Sonsonate on Friday in two trucks furnished by the San Blas cooperative and the Santa Ana mayoral office.

Ferrer has asked the residents to return to their homes and has called for other residents near the volcano to remain calm and to not be [influenced] by people whose intentions are to “protest”. Ferrer has stated that COEN will take no responsibility for the 98 people sheltered in San Isidro and argued that, “the moment of evacuation will be determined by when the magma is close to the crater and can explode.” Ferrer also ensured that the levels of volcanic activity are diminishing, a statement that was contradicted by a report from the National Service for Territorial Studies (SNET) that cited an increase in seismic activity.

In response to Ferrer’s statements to the press, evacuees clarified that they are at the shelter not because they want to but because they cannot be calm in their homes due to the anguish of waiting to see what the volcano will do.

In spite of COEN’s refusal to support the evacuees, the National Civilian Police (PNC), the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Health and the Rescue Commandos—all institutions that work with COEN—have assisted the evacuees at the shelter in San Isidro.