[00:-1.00]montserrat's main town is evacuated as scientists warn of a major eruption.
[00:-2.00]Volcano Fears Mount
[00:-3.00]Jeremy Lennard St Peters,Montserrat.
[00:-4.00]There is a growing risk of a large volcanic explosion
[00:-5.00]on the Caribbean island of Montserrat.
[00:-6.00]Salem,the largest town.is going to be evacuated.
[00:-7.00]The decision was made by Bertrand Osborne,the UK's minister of the island.
[00:-8.00]It came after a new warning
[00:-9.00]had been given by scientists at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory.
[00:10.00]They believe there will soon be a large explosion
[00:11.00]and the safety of the local people cannot be guaranteed.
[00:12.00]Yesterday, people were being moved to a safe zone in the north of the island.
[00:13.00]"Financial help for the islanders will be announced later this week,"
[00:14.00]Mr Osborne said.
[00:15.00]However, local residents have criticised the government.
[00:16.00]They say that the government knew about the danger
[00:17.00]over a week ago but no action was taken.
[00:18.00]They also claim that people are being evacuated to areas that are still dangerous.
[00:19.00]"The situation has not been improved.It's total chaos,"said a local activist.
[00:20.00]A huge earthquake caused serious damage to the region of Qasvin,Iran.
[00:21.00]Earthquake Kills Hundreds
[00:22.00]The region of Qasvin,Western Iran,was hit by a buge earthquake yesterday.
[00:23.00]The quake,measuring 6.3 magnitude,
[00:24.00]came just minutes after a warning had been issued by scientists.
[00:25.00]The short notice gave local people little
[00:26.00]or no time to escape to an area of safety.
[00:27.00]The quake has caused serious damage.
[00:28.00]There are collapsed buildings everywhere
[00:29.00]and many people are believed to be buried under rubble.
[00:30.00]Earlier,a massive rescue operation was being organised to find survivors.
[00:31.00]Spain are being flown to Iran to help with the rescue.
[00:32.00]They are expected to arrive in the region soon.
[00:33.00]As further quakes cannot be ruled out,
[00:34.00]cities in the area are going to be evacuated.
[00:35.00]Currently,there are thousands of people living in tents
[00:36.00]in temporary camps with no telephones,
[00:37.00]electricity or water supplies.
[00:38.00]Later this week,a special fund to rebuild the citties
[00:39.00]and towns which were destroyed by the earthquake will be announced
[00:40.00]by officials of the United Nations |