La Palma Three more towns are evacuated after the volcano's explosive activity intensifies: "If it bursts, it takes us all ahead"
Graphics This is how the volcanic eruption in La Palma is explained
José Andrés' agenda for these days included a meeting with Jeff Bezos, the billionaire founder of Amazon, and a round of golf in the version for 'celebrities' of the Ryder Cup. However, this Friday at noon his plan was very different : I was in the municipality of El Paso,
southwest of La Palma
, distributing packages of 'old clothes', a succulent Canarian dish, among those evicted by the volcano. "I immediately sent my organization on Sunday and I have come to check that everything is going well," says the Asturian chef as he crosses the island at full speed in a van from World Central Kitchen (WCK), his disaster relief NGO.
"Take, kid, a mask for the smoke and another for your friend," he says to a
five-year-old boy
in a Batman T-shirt.
"You don't know how we thank you," replies the mother, visibly
moved by the unexpected arrival of provisions
.
The eruption caught the chef landing in Washington on Sunday.
On Thursday, he flew from there to London, then jumped to Tenerife
and finally landed on La Palma on Thursday night.
It is the fifth eruption that it attends together with WCK, but it was never expected to have to do so in Spain.
"The only advantage of volcanoes against floods or hurricanes is that much of the land
remains intact and from there you can help
the victims," he explains.
José Andrés unloads food from a van in El Paso.ALBERTO DI LOLLI
But, despite so much experience, he is amazed when he turns a curve and comes face-to-face with the majestic image of the mountain,
spitting all its fury towards the sky
.
"He's looking at the lava, he's beastly," he says while recording a live video for his legion of followers on social networks, who he encourages to make donations.
"15% of the inhabitants have been affected, it is a beastly percentage."
A couple from the Civil Guard approach to admonish him for stopping his van on a shoulder.
But, when recognizing him,
the agent changes the reproaches for praise
and even asks for a selfie.
"The president and the king have come these days, but the true honor is to see you here, your work is priceless," insists the guard.
The chef then visits the El Paso City Hall, where he talks with local authorities
to make sure all services are coordinated
.
"I know these catastrophes well: at first everything is solidarity but then, boom, people forget," he advises those in charge of social services.
"Do not get burned now: think that it is a marathon, not a sprint. You have to go with your head".
ALBERTO DI LOLLI
In the last two months,
José Andrés has treated emergencies in Haiti and Louisiana
, in addition to feeding thousands of Afghan refugees. "At this rate I am left without a restaurant," he laughs as he says that, in reality, his presence on La Palma, of just 24 hours, is almost testimonial: "My team does not need me, because they are fantastic. I have only come to make sure that everything is controlled, coordinate with other organizations and give encouragement. I don't need any more here, we have another 25 emergencies in the world. "
The chef says goodbye at full speed to distribute more food on the island.
As evening falls, he
witnesses the worsening of the crisis
and decides to send a message to the islanders via Twitter: "I just heard a big explosion that has opened new cracks in the cone ... We will continue to feed the evacuees and the services emergency. Stay strong, clappers. "
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