On May 6, in Manizales (Caldas) installed a Unified Command Post follow-up to the response preparations before the orange activity level in which the Nevado del Ruiz volcano. In the PMU, chaired by the director of the National Unit for Disaster Risk ManagementOlmedo López, and the governor of Caldas, Luis Carlos Velasquez Cardona.
The latter asked the Ungrd to reduce from 15 to 10 kilometers the danger zone around the volcano, without this meaning that the emergency is neglected, the governor clarified:
“I want to tell the Colombians and the people of Caldas that today we have touched on several important issues; one of them to decrease from 15 kilometers around the volcano to 10 kilometers, let’s say, the danger area of possible influence”, Governor Velásquez announced.
This request, explained the governoris given to help mitigate the economic effects that the evacuation orders in the face of the eventual eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano have left families, thermal hotels and farmers who are close to the perimeter delimited by the ungrd:
“Those five kilometers of difference are essential for the economy of the department of Caldas. It is not relaxing, it is continuing to work as we are doing, but it is going from 15 kilometers to 10, so that different thermal hotels can have better economic performance, agro-industry and so many families that live, let’s say, offering goods and services for tourism ”, said the governor of Caldas.
The governor also pointed out that next week —between May 8 and 14— “is going to be very important for resources, yellow machinery and other important and fundamental issues for the region.” Likewise, he thanked the director of the Ungrd for receiving a letter in which they raised different requests: fuel, yellow machinery and animal feed, among others.
The request to reduce the danger zone delimited by the Ungrd does not change the invitation to evacuate that was made to the families that live near the volcano, as explained by the governor Velasquez: “This application does not change the eviction notice for families in the area. Currently, 20 families have evacuated and 21 minors are with relatives.
The director of the ungrd praised the work on tertiary roads in the area of influence of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano to expedite the evacuation processes of the communities in case of an emergency. About this, Cesar Alberto Gomez BuenoSecretary of Infrastructure of the department, indicated what the process is about: “Today we are trying to reach the 110 kilometers of influence roads and the main evacuation routes so that the communities can easily leave in the event of a novelty with the volcano”.
The director of the Ungrd, in the PMU, also said that, to avoid future evacuations You should think about buying land near the volcano: “I am thinking of buying land near the volcano to make it a reserve area and thus avoid future evacuations.”
242 students from five schools in the municipality villamaria(Caldas) —which are in the area of influence of the volcano Snowy Ruiz—will return to face-to-face classes on May 16. This was announced by the Caldas Secretary of Education, Diana Maria Cardona Garciawhich also said that between May 8 and 12 the 30 educational centers will continue in the learning mode at home, while the necessary changes in logistics are coordinated for the delivery of the School Feeding Program (PAE).
“At the suggestion of teachers and educational administrators, the review of the location of the headquarters was requested because they considered that some would not be more affected in the event of an eruption,” explained the official, who added: “This will be from May 16 every time that we must guarantee the school feeding service. Also, with the recommendation that students and teachers carry face masks.
The schools that will return to face-to-face from May 16 are: the Partidas Educational Institution, with its main headquarters and its Pinares headquarters; the Colombian Educational Institution, with its headquarters Alto Castillo and Antonio Nariño; and the Institutionn Educational Fortunato Gaviriawith its headquarters in Bajo Corozal.
