Volcano Forcing Drastic Measures Island Officials May Cut Water, Power To Prompt Evacuation

Trying to force scores of residents to evacuate from volcano-threatened areas, officials said Monday they are prepared to shut off water and power to several villages on this Caribbean island.

Disaster workers in this British colony evacuated 80 people late Sunday from the villages of Old Towne, Frith’s and Olveston after an eruption of searing gas and rock ignited the abandoned airport 3-1/2 miles northeast of the volcano. The towns lie the same distance northwest of the smoldering Soufriere Hills volcano.

On Monday, another eruption sent volcanic material to within half a mile of the evacuated towns, and scientists warned future avalanches could decimate the area.

A few dozen residents packed up their cars and headed north Monday, but most appeared to be ignoring the warnings.

The government hoped to evacuate the remaining 50 people from the villages and about 100 people in the larger town of Salem by Saturday, said Richard Aspin of Montserrat’s Emergency Operations Center. Then the government plans to cut water, power and telephone service to the area and set up locking barriers across the only access road, he said.

Salem had replaced Plymouth, the abandoned capital, as the island’s economic center since the volcano sprang to life in July 1995, destroying hundreds of homes and businesses and wiping out tourism. Since then, more than half of the 11,000 residents have fled, while the rest are squeezed into shelters and homes in the north.