CARIBBEAN
Montserrat’s Soufriere Hills volcano came to life in 1995, forcing more than half the island’s 12,000 residents to flee. Then in 1997 an eruption buried the capital city, Plymouth. Now, in late May, a collapsing dome spewed a gigantic cloud of ash 10 miles high, suspending flights in the area, especially between Miami and Venezuela. The air has cleared, flights have resumed, and the volcano has quieted for now.
FRANCE
In a scene reminiscent of last fall’s three weeks of rioting by disgruntled immigrants, some 100 youths fought with police May 29 in the Paris suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis. The youths burned cars and trash bins to protest a police operation that resulted in the arrest of a local man. Seven police were injured and six rioters were arrested. Trouble also occurred in the nearby area of Clichy-Sous-Bois, where last fall’s riots began.
INDONESIA
Some 200,000 people are homeless and more than 5,400 dead after the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck near the historic city of Yogyakarta May 27. Power was out for days in the affected area, which covers hundreds of square miles. Nearby Mt. Merapi continues to be a threat as its volcanic activity has increased since the earthquake. The ancient site of Borobudur, the biggest Buddhist monument on Earth, was unharmed, but the Prambanan Hindu temple complex suffered some damage. Non-essential travel to Yogyakarta should be avoided until the recovery is well under way.
JAPAN
The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo reported it had received information of a possible threat to U.S. facilities in Japan, and urged Americans to remain alert for and report suspicious activity. Officials had not determined the credibility of the threat when they made the announcement May 24, nor would they say what precautions had been taken.
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For the latest on world conditions, check the State Department’s automated service at 888-407-4747; fax 202-647-3000; travel.state.gov.
