Inhabitants of the municipalities closest to the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Tolima were equipped with a radio system so that they can count on permanent communication with the department’s Secretary of Environment and Risk Management, in case of any news or emergency that can be presented.
In effect, this arose as an alternative to the difficulties in coverage in the mobile telephone network, which prevented a cDirect contact with the inhabitants of Murillo, Casabianca, Herveo and Villahermosa.
From the central region: Nevado del Ruiz: Rule out evacuation of cattle from municipalities near the volcano in Tolima
“We have linked the radio room of the Secretary of Environment and Risk Management, which works 24 hours a day and seven days a week, with the four prioritized municipalities with a system of portable radios to be able to have communication andn real time,” explained Andrés Felipe Barragán, Secretary of Environment and Risk Management of Tolima.
Contact is made with the residents who, despite the suggestions of relief agencies and departmental entities, They have not agreed to evacuate the most exposed areas before a possible eruption.
“We are communicating with them several times a day. At nine in the morning, three in the afternoon and around eight at night. A call is made and a sweep is made with the daily news,” added Barragán.
Also read: Nevado del Ruiz: they warn that Villahermosa does not have good communications
HE has suggested to the inhabitants an alternate presence in the farms and properties. That is to say, that they carry out the normal tasks during the day so that they can later make use of the shelters provided by the local governments.
“Ideally, one person per family should be on their property during the day, tending their cattle and doing their chores. At the end of the afternoon, it is suggested that you go to the shelters to sleepsince night visibility is almost nil in the event of an eruption,” emphasized Barragán.
The department is expected to lead a dialogue table, in the coming days, with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (Mintic), as well as with the telephone companies with the aim of improving coverage in this area from Tolima.
