The parish priest of Vulcano: “We are not afraid but there is apprehension”

“No, we are not afraid of the volcano. But there is a sacred fear towards’ Iddu ‘(he ed)’. Of course, there is apprehension. But it is logical and it is normal, but my parishioners have already organized to spend the nights elsewhere “. Speaking, in an interview with Adnkronos, is Father Lio Raffaele, the parish priest of the island of Vulcano. From this evening on the island, and for the next 30 days, the evacuation, currently only for the night hours, of 220 islanders, which, due to the toxic gas exhalations, by 11 pm, and up to the early hours the next morning, they will have to leave their homes. These are the inhabitants of the port area and its surroundings. The Ingv volcanologists have ascertained that “the flow of Co2, the values ​​of which were automatically acquired by the Vulcanogas network, continue to be high”. In recent days, the mayor Marco Giorgianni met with the islanders to explain the situation. During the day all activities will remain open, and life will continue in a normal way. “But the same cannot be said for the night,” said the mayor of the island. Two days ago the Sicilian Region declared a regional state of emergency for the island. Don Lio organized a prayer vigil for Wednesday evening. “Yes, we will pray to return to normal soon”, says the religious, who is also the parish priest of Lipari. Father Lio himself remembers that “most of the families have already organized themselves for the night, some will go to relatives on the other side of the island, between Vulcano Piano and Vulcanello. They have family and friends on the island”. “They move until the control units are placed and in-depth tests are done,” he says. And he adds: “We are a people who adapt, we are used to living on a sun”. “In the summer period we enter into great movement, life changes, then in winter we return to normal. For seven months we live in a certain way, the remaining months we return to life as usual”. ‘Parish life goes on regularly, there is great collaboration’ And he remembers that parish life “goes on regularly”. “Yesterday I celebrated mass and I also had a 50th wedding”. “Now we have to take the measures and after that see and tell people how to behave, there is a great collaboration, however”. When asked if the citizens are worried, Don Lio replies: “Look, the last explosion dates back to 1883, and then the Stromboli teaches that if things are not very serious, we should go back to normal. Sure, there are worries, but fear is born with man and dies with man “. Then he explains: “On the days of sirocco, when the smoke comes down from the volcano, you can smell the sulfur, but I didn’t stay a whole day in the same place, we talk about breathing difficulties, because there is carbon dioxide. “. And he adds: “Apprehension is logical and it is also normal, the volcano is part of the island and every little jolt of it puts us in ambush, but we will overcome even this”.